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Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2026 Good heavens meaning

An expression used to express disbelief.

Great Scott meaning

An expression used to express amazement.

Holy smokes meaning

An expression used to express amazement.

Jiminy Cricket meaning

An iconic Disney character from Pinocchio.

Gladiator sandals meaning

A type of shoe inspired by the ancient Roman era.

Marty McFly meaning

The main character in Back to the Future.

Moonlight Sonata meaning

Beethoven's most popular song.

Rocky road meaning

A chocolate dessert.

Arctic char meaning

A northern species of salmon and trout.

Comedy roast meaning

A barrage of jokes making fun of someone.

Doc Brown meaning

A scientist in Back to the Future.

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You're toast meaning

A popular saying meaning you've messed up.

Change purse meaning

A small purse used for carrying spare change.

Flux capacitor meaning

A part of the time machine in Back to the Future.

Shift dress meaning

A popular dress from the 1950s.

Swing set meaning

An outdoor play structure with multiple swings.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a film buff.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 12, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Wow!

• Green: Transformation

• Blue: Chef it up

• Purple: Great films

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: "Gadzooks!"

• Green: Starting with variations

• Blue: Ending in ways to cook things

• Purple: Starting with Best Picture Oscar winners

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1250 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• "Gadzooks!": GOOD HEAVENS, GREAT SCOTT, HOLY SMOKES, JIMINY CRICKET

• Starting with variations: CHANGE PURSE, FLUX CAPACITOR, SHIFT DRESS, SWING SET

• Ending in ways to cook things: ARCTIC CHAR, COMEDY ROAST, DOC BROWN, YOU'RE TOAST

• Starting with Best Picture Oscar winners: GLADIATOR SANDALS, MARTY MCFLY, MOONLIGHT SONATA, ROCKY ROAD

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you attend a lot of events.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 12, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Facing the music

The words are related to watching something.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve attending an event.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Audience.

NYT Strands word list for November 12

• Concertgoer

• Spectator

• Listener

• Viewer

• Patron

• Audience

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love jewels.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 12, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Are you also playing NYT Connections? See hints and answers for today's Connections.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Gold measurement.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter K.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

KARAT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang came under scrutiny this week after he admitted to an affair that The New York Times linked to a suspected Chinese intelligence asset. It now appears that this may not have been his only affair, a second strike which may see him ousted from his position leading the multibillion-dollar chipmaker.

SEE ALSO: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits affair with alleged Chinese spy

The New York Times reports that Huang had an extramarital romantic relationship with his coworker Kimberly Powell, who currently serves as Nvidia's vice president of healthcare. While it's unclear whether this affair is still ongoing, multiple sources speaking to the Times stated that Huang and Powell were seen being affectionate with each other as recently as this March. Huang has been married to his wife since 1985, while Powell is reportedly married as well.

Meanwhile, Nvidia’s board is allegedly looking to oust Huang. The company had previously stated that Huang would stay on as CEO during the investigation into his affair with Megaspeed executive Alice Huang (no relation). However, the revelation of his relationship with Powell may have changed that plan. The Wall Street Journal reports that the board now intends to remove Huang. Reuters reported that the board was meeting late Wednesday to decide his future.

Nvidia's code of conduct does not explicitly prohibit workers from cheating on their spouses, or from dating their coworkers. However, it does warn employees to avoid conflicts of interest, which may include "personal relationships," and further states that managers "serve as role models."

"We ask ourselves what the impact would be if our conduct or action became public or came to the attention of respected colleagues," reads the code.

"We conduct ourselves and our business with the highest ethical standards by never taking undue advantage of a business relationship and never sacrificing a long-term relationship for a short-term gain."

In a letter preceding the code, Huang stated that it is the company's "responsibility to maintain high ethical standards," and urged employees to "ensure that each of us upholds the principles that are essential for preserving NVIDIA's reputation as a distinguished and exceptional company."

On Nov. 8, Huang acknowledged the affair in an email to employees that Nvidia later published, The New York Times having named his affair partner as Ms. Huang. Though U.S. spy agencies have reportedly identified Ms. Huang as a Chinese intelligence asset, China has refuted such allegations as "groundless smears and slanders" against the country.

Nvidia's stock was already down after the recent U.S. midterm elections, and fell around 10 percent through Tuesday's close after Huang's affair with Ms. Huang became public. Now the company’s stock has fallen even further following reports of his second affair and potential ousting, shaving more than 8 percent off its value in Wednesday's after-hours trading.

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If you're an Android user looking for a smartwatch that actually keeps up with your phone, the Google Pixel Watch 5 is worth looking into. This latest model brings Gemini Intelligence, a domed Actua 360 display, and up to 40 hours of battery life. The $400 list price might have been too high for some, but right now Amazon has the 44mm Wi-Fi model available for $300, 25% off the MSRP. If you've been eyeing the Pixel Watch 5, now's the chance to grab one.

My home server plans usually die when I look at the hardware list. Everyone claims you need a dedicated box, which is rough if you don't have a spare machine sitting around. In reality, the PC you already have can handle most of it. Docker Desktop runs on Windows, and plenty of useful tools are small enough that they barely register next to my browser tabs.

Long-time Android fans are well aware of the legendary Tasker app, but the experience isn’t limited to phones. The “AutoWear” plugin brings Wear OS devices, such as the Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch, into the fold.

Laptops compromise the computer experience in exchange for portability and mobility. There's no way around that fact.

The air around us is full of signals that we can't see. Despite the technology being more than 100 years old, radio waves are still frequently used by music stations, satellites, aircraft, and more. You don't need expensive equipment to pick up these signals; you can do it with a dongle that can cost as little as $25.

3D printing can mean a lot of trial and error, especially when you're fighting with bed leveling or tangled filament. The Bambu Lab P2S AMS Combo 3D Printer takes on both laser-based bed leveling and an AI vision system that detects tangled filament. Right now, you can get one for $100 off in a Best Buy holiday deal.

Some movies leave a lasting impression because of their ability to make us laugh or cry. Other movies remind us of the importance of family, friendship, and community. I have always found that the best classic movies are the ones that manage to do both, telling deeply personal stories that resonate long after the credits roll. Whether they explore the horrors of war, the strength of friendship, or the pain of losing someone we love, these films have a way of making us reflect on our own lives.

TL;DR: The Yu-Gi-Oh! The Magnificent Monsters Box Set is on sale for $35.33 on Amazon, down from its standard $39.95 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Konami Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters Box Set $35.33 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $4.62   Get Deal at Amazon

There's a fresh Amazon bargain for Yu-Gi-Oh! fans who prefer their trading cards centered on monsters from the hit anime series. Konami's Magnificent Monsters expansion, which only launched in September, has now hit its lowest-ever price on the retailer — a more than welcome early Black Friday deal. 

As of Nov. 11, the Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters Box Set has dropped to just $35.33 at Amazon, trimming $4.62 off its usual $39.95 price with a 12% discount. This offer may come from third-party seller serious_gaming, but orders are still fulfilled by Amazon with free delivery available for Prime members and non-members alike.

Only $5.16 above its estimated $30.17 market price on TCGplayer, this is indeed the lowest price this box has been on Amazon since it first dropped at $48.99 (confirmed with the price tracker camelcamelcamel).

Inside each box are three five-card booster packs containing 15 Ultra Rares altogether, accompanied by three additional Secret Rares that have a chance of being upgraded to Starlight Rares. The expansion's biggest attractions include 18 reimagined cards inspired by the first six Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series, six new boss monsters, and extremely scarce, serial-numbered Grand Master Rares that collectors can potentially pull.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon card drops and restocks: Best deals from Amazon, Walmart, TCGplayer

For early fans of the first three classic anime series, the go-to monsters include Yugi Moto’s Dark Magician (now Dark Magician, the Pharaoh’s Servant), Jaden/Judai Yuki’s Elemental Hero Flame Wingman (Favorite Hero Flame Wingman), and Yusei Fudo’s Stardust Dragon (Stardust Dragon — Victim Sanctuary).  

If you're after any particular cards, you can also buy Yu-Gi-Oh! Magnificent Monsters singles right now on TCGplayer.

TL;DR: Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 is a full diagramming app for Windows, and a lifetime license is on sale for $43.99 (reg. $579.99) with code DEAL20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visio Professional 2024: Lifetime License for Windows $43.99
$579.99 Save $536   Get Deal

Flowcharts, org charts, and network maps take a long time to build by hand in a slide deck. If you want a dedicated diagramming app you only pay for once, get a Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 lifetime license for Windows. Code DEAL20 brings the price down to $43.99 (reg. $579.99).

Stop paying monthly fees for design tools

Visio comes with ready-made templates for flowcharts, process maps, floor plans, network diagrams, and org charts, so you can start most projects with a layout rather than a blank page. You’ll also get access to a library with more than 250,000 shapes, enough for a simple approval flow or a detailed engineering drawing.

You can link a diagram to data in Excel or SQL Server. When those numbers change, Visio updates the diagram automatically, so nobody has to redraw the chart before a meeting.

Formatting tools let you adjust shapes, text, and themes until a diagram matches the look you want. Newer visual styles and layouts also make dense diagrams easier to read, whether you’re drawing an IT network or a floor plan.

Finished diagrams go straight into PowerPoint, Word, or a Teams chat, and you can store them in OneDrive or SharePoint to share with your team. Several people can edit the same diagram at once, with changes tracked as they happen. Away from your desk, the Visio web app lets you view and edit diagrams from a phone or tablet. Visio 2024 also has refreshed shapes and styles, a new search bar, and a design that matches the rest of Office.

You don’t need to be a professional designer to make professional-looking designs.

Use code DEAL20 to get a Microsoft Visio Professional 2024 lifetime license on sale for $43.99. Offer ends Nov. 15.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The unfortunate truth is that the global memory shortage is affecting SSDs as well, with their prices shooting up to the stratosphere throughout this year. While the SSD market’s pretty grim if you need, say, a drive with a capacity of 500GB or more, you can still get an SSD for cheap as long as your PC doesn’t need lots of storage.

Sure, Zune was a commercial flop, and it never had a large enough user base to justify Microsoft keeping it around. But if you used it, you'll probably agree with me that nothing else felt, feels, or will ever feel quite like it. Yes, at the end of the day, it was a music player you used to play your music. But it did so with a design language so distinctive and iconic that it still looks modern today. And so, with Zune turning 20 this month, I decided to bring the software back with a little help from Claude.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 11, the Bambu Lab P1S is on sale for $349 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bambu Bambu Lab P1S $349 at Amazon
$399 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been eyeing up a 3D printer for custom creations or personalized gifts, you might not have to wait until Black Friday to find a decent deal. Early discounts are already appearing, including this latest deal on the Bambu Lab P1S, a ready-to-use FDM 3D printer designed to make creating your own objects from digital designs more straightforward.

This 3D printer is designed to make creating detailed, multi-color models quicker and easier, with printing speeds of up to 500 mm/s and an acceleration of 20,000 mm/s². It supports up to 16-color printing when connected to a compatible Bambu Lab AMS system, giving you more flexibility when working on different designs.

Its fully enclosed body makes it suitable for printing with a range of advanced filaments, and the automatic bed leveling simplifies setup, making it much easier to achieve consistent prints.

And you don't need loads of prep time either; in fact, you can get started in around 15 minutes. According to the product listing, compatible filaments include PLA, PETG, TPU, PVA, PET, and ABS, as well as ASA, PA, and PC, and carbon- and glass-fiber-reinforced polymers aren't recommended.

Get this deal from Amazon now.

It's been 13 years since Rockstar dropped a new mainline Grand Theft Auto, so there was always going to be a fairly large crowd for the next one. A week before launch, we're getting a sense of just how big that crowd is.

Eight days before its Nov. 19 release, GTA 6 has already topped $1 billion in preorders, according to an estimate from market research firm Sensor Tower. The firm also estimates that players worldwide have preordered more than 10 million digital copies for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. (About three out of every four orders were for PS5, The Washington Post reported on Nov. 11.) The previous game, GTA V, hit that same $1 billion milestone three days after it went on sale in 2013, according to publisher Take-Two Interactive.

Take-Two has yet to share its own preorder tally for the sequel, though CEO Strauss Zelnick wrote in a release on Monday that orders were reaching "unprecedented levels." Both Sony and Microsoft also said it's already the most preordered game in the history of their respective digital stores.

Rockstar opened preloads on Nov. 10, so players can get the download out of the way before launch day.

The hype for GTA 6 has been building for nearly three years, ever since Rockstar released its first trailer in December 2023. It drew more than 90 million YouTube views in 24 hours, setting a Guinness World Record, and has 302 million views as of Nov. 11, 2026.

Rockstar gave fans more than trailers to watch while they waited. In August, it premiered Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, a 27-minute preview made entirely from in-game footage, on Netflix before putting it on YouTube later that day. The rollout spilled into music, too. The official album drops alongside the game on Nov. 19, and two days later, Rockstar and PlayStation will host a music festival in Miami with performances from Cardi B, Travis Scott, and Justice, who composed the game’s score.

Streamers have made their own entertainment out of the countdown. IShowSpeed reacted to the launch trailer on YouTube, amassing 1.7 million views, while Twitch streamer Kai Cenat has gone back through the series, spending more than 130 hours playing five older GTA games.

SEE ALSO: Kai Cenat beats four GTA games in under 100 hours ahead of GTA 6 and isn't done yet

The anticipation has reached a level where Hollywood's ears have perked up. When Screen Engine and The Wrap asked people which upcoming movie, show, or game they were most excited about, GTA 6 came out on top for the sixth week in a row, drawing 8.3 percent of mentions in the latest survey, ahead of Avengers: Doomsday at 6.7 percent.

That's unfortunate data to see as an entertainment exec, especially considering The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens the next day, when new seasons of Yellowjackets and Percy Jackson and the Olympians also premiere. All three are arriving on a weekend when some fans have already taken time off to spend in Vice City. "Hollywood should look at the hours as closely as the dollars," The Game Awards founder Geoff Keighley told The Hollywood Reporter.

When I say time off, by the way, I mean literally. Some fans have already blocked off those hours on their work calendars. As Mashable's Amanda Yeo noted in September, a Thursday release means two vacation days can buy a four-day weekend playing the game, though some were already talking about taking a week or more. HR software company BambooHR found that employees requested Nov. 19 off at a rate 13 percent higher than for comparable days in 2024 and 2025. In a separate survey, 18 percent of salaried workers said they planned to take launch day off to play.

SEE ALSO: Want time off for 'GTA 6'? Here's how to ask your boss.

As for workplaces, the company Logitech is giving employees a day off to play a game of their choice, and its gaming division will stream from its San Jose headquarters on launch day. Even an Army unit at Fort Stewart in Georgia allegedly offered eligible soldiers a four-day pass timed to the release if they reenlisted by Nov. 14.

By the time Avengers: Doomsday opens in December, those launch-day vacation days will be long gone. The question for Hollywood is how many people will still want to spend their precious free time in Vice City versus watching TV or going to the movies. If preorders are any indication, quite a few.

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Switching outdoor string lights on and off manually gets old fast. The Kasa Apple HomeKit Outdoor Smart Plug lets you control them from your phone or with voice commands. Right now, you can get it for $16.99 as part of an early Black Friday deal on Amazon.

AirTags have had their moment, but their time has passed. The push for universal compatibility and Google's efforts to revitalize its Find Hub have led to an explosion of competition in the Bluetooth tracker market. Previously known as Find My Device, the Find Hub creates a web of Android devices to help you locate your lost mobile devices. Popular trackers now offer dual compatibility for Google and Apple's findability networks, but users still have to choose a single ecosystem to rely on at a time.