IT General

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 October 21, 2026 Duck Duck Goose meaning

A traditional children's circle game.

Hot Potato meaning

A controversial, difficult or problematic issue that no one wants to deal with..

Leapfrog meaning

A traditional children's game in which one player crouches or bends over at the waist, and others take turns hopping over their back.

Musical Chairs meaning

A party game where players walk or march around a row or circle of chairs while music plays.

Alpha dog meaning

The dominant leader or highest-ranking animal in a dog or wolf pack.

Big cheese meaning

An important, influential person who holds power, authority,or a top leadership position in an organization or company.

Heavyweight meaning

Someone or something of above-average weight.

Top banana meaning

The most important, powerful or leading person in a group, organization or activity

American Gothic meaning

A 1930s oil painting of a Midwestern farmer holding a pitchfork and his unmarried grown daughter.

Campbell's Soup Can meaning

A series of 32 paintings produced by American artist Andy Warhol.

Sunflowers meaning

A tall, annual flowering plant in the daisy family, famous for its large, bright yellow flower heads and edible seeds.

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The Scream meaning

An iconic 1893 proto-expressionist painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.

English horn meaning

A double-reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family.

Grape-nuts meaning

A classic American breakfast cereal made from whole grain wheat.

Mantis shrimp meaning

Carnivorous marine crustaceans.

Sweetbread meaning

A culinary name for the thymus or pancreas.

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 obedient.

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 October 21, 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: Cease

• Green: Servant

• Blue: Facial hair

• Purple: Animated roles

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Classic children's games

• Green: Important person

• Blue: Famous paintings

• Purple: Double misnomers (neither word is an accurate description)

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 #1227 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Classic children's games: DUCK DUCK GOOSE, HOT POTATO, LEAPFROG, MUSICAL CHAIRS

• Important person: ALPHA DOG, BIG CHEESE, HEAVYWEIGHT, TOP BANANA

• Famous paintings: AMERICAN GOTHIC, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN, SUNFLOWERS, THE SCREAM

• Double misnomers (neither word is an accurate description): ENGLISH HORN, GRAPE-NUTS, MANTIS SHRIMP, SWEETBREAD

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're a hoarder.

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 October 21, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On a higher level

The words are related to storage.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe storing things at home.

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 In the Attic.

NYT Strands word list for October 21

• In the Attic

• Luggage

• Boxes

• Decoration

• Trunks

• Yearbooks

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 carry spare change.

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 October 21, 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.

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:

One cent.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PENNY

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.

Living in a dense neighborhood used to mean dealing with noise and parking. Now it means your neighbors can slow down devices in your own home without ever touching them. Your neighbors don't even need to do this on purpose, which is part of what makes it hard to fight against.

I'm generally pretty good at coming up with the right words to find what I need on Google. But every now and then, I run into a question where I don't quite know the right vocabulary to type into a search bar, or where it would take a paragraph to explain what I'm looking for. That's usually when I realize I've been staring at a problem for 20 minutes that I could solve in two if I just pointed my camera at it. Here are five times Google Lens came to my rescue.

Infrared (IR) remote controls have been commonplace since the early 1980s, and are still around today. Despite the development of Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter, my TV still works using this old technology. Infrared has some important benefits that modern protocols still can't match.

Most tool buyers don't think much about where the electronics live inside their gear. You pick up a drill, it works, and you move on. Ryobi's ONE+ system makes a different choice than most of the industry, putting battery-management logic in the pack instead of the tool. That sounds like a big deal, but it doesn't seem to change much.

Netflix puts out a pretty wide array of original shows, ranging from massively popular icons like Stranger Things to questionable and poorly rated shows like Hype House. Sometimes, though, Netflix puts out some brilliant masterpieces that don't quite reach mainstream popularity, instead garnering cult followings or, more sadly, fading slowly into obscurity.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 license for $27.97 (reg. $499.99) through Oct. 20.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $27.97
$499.99 Save $472.02   Get Deal

Most professional IDEs are sold as subscriptions, so you keep paying for as long as you use them. That includes most versions of Visual Studio Pro, but there’s a way around it. Right now, you can actually get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for Windows as a lifetime license, and it’s on sale for $27.97 (reg. $499.99).

This version of Visual Studio adds AI to debugging and performance work. When you run the profiler or debugger, AI agents suggest fixes and can generate unit tests for the code in front of you. IntelliCode also looks at your own codebase, including your variable names, functions, and libraries, and finishes lines or whole blocks for you.

Large solutions load up to twice as fast, a change you’ll notice if your projects take a while to open. If you use Visual Studio 2022, there’s nothing to migrate. You can install 2026 next to it, and your current projects and extensions still work. Microsoft also split the IDE from the .NET and C++ build tools, so updating Visual Studio doesn’t change the tool versions your builds rely on.

Live Share lets coworkers code and debug in the same session without cloning your repo or installing your dependencies. You can use Visual Studio 2026 to build .NET MAUI mobile and desktop apps, Blazor web apps in C#, and .NET or C++ apps for Windows, Linux, and containers. You can install it on one PC running Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2019 or 2022.

Pay for Visual Studio once instead of keeping up a subscription. Through Oct. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for just $27.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I had a dream. A dream where I had a stable Ethernet connection in every corner of the house. But wiring up the whole place was impractical (and borderline impossible), so I've almost resigned myself to using Wi-Fi, which is famously unreliable in my area.

My homelab runs a lot of my house. My smart home, media streaming, photo library, and dozens of smaller apps are spread across two computers running Proxmox. As far as I could tell, everything was healthy, but to make sure, I asked Claude to access both devices and look for problems without changing anything. It found some serious issues that I'd missed for months because none of them had broken anything that I could see.

TL;DR: Pay once and download videos from streaming sites for life with this Windows lifetime license for SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader, on sale now for just $99.99 (reg. $149.90).

Opens in a new window Credit: SameMovie SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader: Lifetime License (Windows) $99.99
$149.90 Save $49.91   Get Deal

If you’re paying for multiple streaming services month after month, wouldn’t it be nice to have something to show for it? SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader gives them all an added benefit, making it possible to download and keep content from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more.

Right now, you can secure a Windows lifetime license for SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader for just $99.99.

Whether you’ve got a big trip coming up that requires a lot of offline content or you’re simply sick of keeping tabs on which streamer is currently showing your favorite comfort show, SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader is ready to make your streamers work for you.

With SameMovie, you can download videos from over 1,000 free and paid streaming services for offline viewing, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and more. Your downloads come in up to 1080p HD, 4K, or even 8K depending on the source video.

Play the files back on computers, phones, tablets, and TVs, making this a perfect pre-flight routine if you’re looking to load up on a full season of content. Keep multilingual audio tracks and 5.1 surround sound, with the subtitles embedded or saved as separate SRT or VTT files.

Supported devices offer ad-free downloads, and you can also extract MP3 or AAC audio. SameMovie includes a built-in browser if you’re looking to find titles by name or URL, too.

This lifetime license for Windows includes future updates and technical support if needed.

Stay entertained anytime with this Windows lifetime license for SameMovie All-In-One Video Downloader, on sale now for just $99.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

A Texas man sentenced to 60 years in prison for armed robbery is seeking to overturn his conviction based on the use of Flock cameras to track his movements.

The man, 37-year-old Charles Brownlee, was found guilty of five armed robberies in 2024. According to his legal team, authorities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area used Flock cameras to monitor his vehicle's movements and create a "pattern of life" to tie him to the crimes, reported the Texas Tribune.

SEE ALSO: Meta: We're sorry for banning No Kings Instagram account

Brownlee's legal team is arguing that this "pattern" was obtained through unconstitutional surveillance methods enabled by Flock camera networks. They contend police should have obtained a search warrant before accessing Flock databases, which surveil Texans via tens of thousands of Flock cameras across the state.

"Flock’s surveillance database indiscriminately collects a vast trove of locational data about Americans who drive or ride in cars. By capturing, storing, retrieving, and indexing this data, Flock gives police the power to find almost anyone and reconstruct their movements," wrote Brownlee’s legal team in a brief submitted to the 5th Circuit Court.

Brownlee previously sought to toss the Flock data before going to trial, but the judge denied the request.

In a case earlier this month, a federal judge ruled the use of Flock camera databases to track a drug trafficking suspect's movements across state lines was unconstitutional. The woman at the center of the case was found in possession of methamphetamine after a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officer ran her plate number through Flock databases and deemed her recent travels suspicious.

"Freedom from persistent, dragnet-style surveillance while in public is not a foreign concept in our society, and it is a reasonable expectation that society already accepts," Judge Sara E. Hill wrote in her decision at the time.

I have an extra Android Auto Wireless adapter with a USB-C to USB adapter. Since I recently upgraded to a different one, I figured I could make some use of the adapter portion of it. What better way to do that than hook random stuff up to my phone and tablet and see what works? So I tested basically every USB device I had with my phone and tablet. My benchmark for most of these tests is how well a device works, whether it has any input lag, and how long I can use it before it drains my battery.

Fall is here, and if your yard is starting to become overgrown by leaves, having a proper leaf blower that can actually handle heavier debris, like dry clippings on your driveway, can make getting yard chores done a lot easier. Ryobi's 40V HP Cordless Leaf Blower Bundle delivers all the power you need, and then some, as it has enough power to blast through damp leaves and even compacted grass, all without the need of straining over a pull start—or the hassle of mixing fuel. Right now, you can grab this complete kit (which includes a battery and charger) from The Home Depot and save 20% off an already affordable price.

Your car will soon know more about you. Google is rolling out Personal Intelligence in Gemini to both Android Auto and cars with Google built-in, giving your ride details that can save you time.

With the arrival of the next-generation, AI-focused Googlebooks, it's natural to wonder how the Chromebooks that have been around for over a decade compare, and if it's still worth considering one over a new Googlebook. Optimized for artificial intelligence, with native Android integration and new cross-device services, Googlebooks promise to be the future of Google laptops, but that doesn't mean they're the best choice right now.

You Can See Everything has the internet in a chokehold. Since that teaser first dropped, people have been fascinated by the very idea that comedian Nathan Fielder made a documentary about infamous Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Then came a flood of praise from critics. Wild rumors about the movie's contents sprung up online. Finally, last weekend, the public had the chance to see if You Can See Everything lived up to the hype, and they came out in force.

Making $15 million its opening weekend, You Can See Everything broke a record for the best opening of a documentary in a decade, according to Deadline. That record was briefly held by Melania, which made $7.1 million earlier this year. Making this achievement all the more remarkable, You Can See Everything is playing in fewer than 1,000 theaters across the U.S. and is nearly three hours long.

SEE ALSO: Let's talk 'You Can See Everything' spoilers: An explainer for Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary

And the hype is not dying down. Fans are not only taking to social media to talk spoilers but also urging others not just to see the movie, but to see it in theaters. But not for the reasons you might think.

Often, when critics say "see it in theaters," we mean that the cinematic spectacle a filmmaker has created deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible with a top-notch immersive stereo system to match. When fandoms urge folks to go to theaters, they might also mean that a big box office could lead to more movies like this being made. But You Can See Everything fans have a different reason: This film demands to be experienced in a crowd.

This sentiment can be found on numerous posts on Threads, ranging from minor spoilers to major ones. Then there are brief, spoiler-free reviews, like this one:

Credit: Threads screenshot

Meanwhile, on X, similar sentiments of enthusiasm were echoed.

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On TikTok, some posted video of the lobby, following their screenings, where audience members stood around in groups to converse. While user Tyler Dema shared how watching You Can See Everything with a crowd was a terrific and unique experience. He explained, "Watching You Can See Everything in an theater packed with people is undoubtedly the way that god and Nathan Fielder intended it to be. We were all gooped and gasping and guffawing together. It...really gave you a sense of community at what a wild journey we all took together. It was beautiful."

This reflected my own experience at the film's New York Film Festival premiere, from which I wrote in my review, "As a movie, it's a hell of an experience. Personally, I gasped, shouted, laughed, and even gagged." What I left out is that I wasn't alone. The theater was booming with vocal explosions. And to be a part of that, all you have to do is go to the theater and experience it for yourself.

You Can See Everything Is Now playing in theaters.

Despite its age, the Wii Remote can still be a useful device. It includes Bluetooth connectivity, motion sensors, an infrared camera, and multiple physical buttons. These features make it a great option for interacting with your smart home, and there are a few ways that you may be able to get your Wii Remote to control Home Assistant.