Yesterday · Puzzle #1,366
Yesterday's Connections Answer
Mon, Nov 9, 2026Updated
Spoiler-safe. Nothing is grouped until you open it. Start with a single nudge per group, then the category names, then the full solution only if you need it.
That day's 16 words
the grid, ungroupedCON JOBFLIMFLAMRIP-OFFSHELL GAMEBOOTCUTDISTRESSEDLOW-RISESKINNYGRAPEFRUIT SPOONMINT LEAFSTEAK KNIFETAPE DISPENSERCARD SHARKFUN SPONGEGAMMA RAYNAVY SEAL
Hints by group
reveal only what you needYellowgroupeasiest
See a hint
One of these four is RIP-OFF
See the category
DECEITFUL SCHEME
See the 4 words
CON JOB · FLIMFLAM · RIP-OFF · SHELL GAME
Greengroupmedium
See a hint
One answer is LOW-RISE
See the category
JEANS DESCRIPTORS
See the 4 words
BOOTCUT · DISTRESSED · LOW-RISE · SKINNY
Bluegrouptricky
See a hint
One of these four is STEAK KNIFE
See the category
THINGS WITH SERRATED EDGES
See the 4 words
GRAPEFRUIT SPOON · MINT LEAF · STEAK KNIFE · TAPE DISPENSER
Purplegrouphardest
See a hint
Start from GAMMA RAY
See the category
ENDING IN SEA CREATURES
See the 4 words
CARD SHARK · FUN SPONGE · GAMMA RAY · NAVY SEAL
The four categories
Reveal the four category names
DECEITFUL SCHEMEYellow
JEANS DESCRIPTORSGreen
THINGS WITH SERRATED EDGESBlue
ENDING IN SEA CREATURESPurple
The full answer
Reveal all four groups
DECEITFUL SCHEMEYellow
CON JOB · FLIMFLAM · RIP-OFF · SHELL GAME
JEANS DESCRIPTORSGreen
BOOTCUT · DISTRESSED · LOW-RISE · SKINNY
THINGS WITH SERRATED EDGESBlue
GRAPEFRUIT SPOON · MINT LEAF · STEAK KNIFE · TAPE DISPENSER
ENDING IN SEA CREATURESPurple
CARD SHARK · FUN SPONGE · GAMMA RAY · NAVY SEAL
Background & guide
Yesterday's Connections, explained
Here are the four groups from yesterday's Connections, sorted from the easiest yellow group to the trickiest purple. If you came close but missed by one, it was probably the purple category — that's where the New York Times usually hides the wordplay and the misdirection.
Playing today instead? Head to today's hints, where nothing is grouped until you open it. Older puzzles live in the answer archive, grouped by year.
Frequently asked questions
How is yesterday's answer laid out?
Open the reveal to see each of the four groups with its category name and four words, sorted from the easy yellow group to the tricky purple one.
Why is purple usually the hardest group?
Purple is where Connections hides the wordplay — puns, hidden words or a shared pattern rather than a plain theme — so it's the group most players leave for last.
How do the colours rank the groups?
Yellow is the easiest, then green, then blue, and purple is usually the trickiest. The colours are the puzzle's own difficulty order.