Technology

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 1, 2026 Bicuspid meaning

Having or ending in two points, cusps or leaflets.

Canine meaning

Any animal belonging to the Canidae family.

Incisor meaning

Sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth in the human mouth and many mammals, used primarily for biting and cutting food.

Molar meaning

Large, flat teeth located at the back of the mouth in humans and other mammals.

Brotherly meaning

Behavior, affection or qualities characteristic of, or befitting, a brother.

Puppy meaning

A juvenile dog, generally under 12 to 18 months old.

Self meaning

An individual's distinct identity, consciousness or unique character that separates them from everyone else.

Unrequited meaning

Not returned, not reciprocated or not given in kind.

Doggy meaning

A playful, affectionate, or childlike term for a puppy or dog.

Maturated meaning

To grow, ripen, or reach full physical or mental maturity.

Trenched meaning

Furrowed, drained or provided with protective ditches.

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Tripping meaning

Catching your foot on an object or step, causing you to lose your balance.

Fiend meaning

An evil spirit, demon or a very cruel and wicked person.

Head meaning

The upper or front part of a human or animal body that contains the brain, eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skull.

Hound meaning

To pursue or harass someone relentlessly.

Lover meaning

A person who has a strong liking or appreciation for something.

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 dentist.

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 1, 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: Take a bite

• Green: All the feels

• Blue: Big fan

• Purple: Sopping

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Kinds of Teeth

• Green: Kinds of Love

• Blue: Enthusiast

• Purple: Synonyms for "Soaked" with First Letter Changed

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 #1239 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of Teeth: BICUSPID, CANINE, INCISOR, MOLAR

• Kinds of Love: BROTHERLY, PUPPY, SELF, UNREQUITED

• Enthusiast: FIEND, HEAD, HOUND, LOVER

• Synonyms for "Soaked" with First Letter Changed: DOGGY, SATURATED, TRENCHED, TRIPPING

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 love to lounge around.

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 1, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: For the rest of the day

The words are related to relaxation.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe taking a rest.

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 ZZZZZZZZ.

NYT Strands word list for November 1

• Sleeo

• Slumber

• Doze

• ZZZZZZZZ

• Catnap

• Snooze

• Siesta

• Drowse

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're a reptile lover.

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 1, 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:

Snake

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter V.

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...

VIPER

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.

The My Computer icon was a fixture on Windows desktops for decades, but it was removed and renamed with the introduction of Windows 10. Now properly called "This PC," the icon must be added back manually. Here's how to get the This PC icon on your desktop.

Milwaukee tools have a solid reputation, and it's one of the best brands in the business, but there are occasional misfires. With hundreds of tools readily available across its growing M12 and M18 platforms, there's bound to be a few duds. Here are a few Milwaukee tools that users most often regret buying.

I like traveling, but I have never been particularly fond of carrying too much stuff. A laptop, its charger, a few essentials, and a bag that does not feel like I am moving house are enough for me. Unfortunately, working remotely can complicate that plan. Hotel Wi-Fi is unpredictable, public networks are a privacy concern, and accessing my home lab while I am away requires a little preparation.

It's easy to design objects that are fully 3D printed, but I've found that my most useful creations work with existing devices. Often, old gadgets just need to be reconfigured a bit to be repurposed. I've used my 3D printer numerous times to breathe new life into phones, smartwatches, and smart home products.

There are plenty of settings that you can scroll through on a Roku TV or streaming device, but there are some hidden menus that offer even more options. You can access these secret settings by pressing a sequence of buttons on your Roku remote, although none of them will give you 30 lives.

Building a homelab can get expensive quickly. A spare PC turns into a virtualization host, which leads to a dedicated NAS, a managed switch, and eventually a rack full of equipment that consumes electricity around the clock. For many homelabbers, the challenge is finding ways to keep experimenting without spending money on new hardware every few months.

The state of the open-source software community has never been better, with Windows being arguably the biggest platform for open-source apps. The most popular desktop operating system in the world has hundreds of fantastic open-source tools and utilities, with the best of them being able to compete with, and sometimes beat, their premium closed-source peers.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max is $1,200 off when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 18 Pro Free when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max $1,200 off when you switch and bring your number on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan. Shop Now

The iPhone Duo launched last week, and naturally, there was a lot of fuss made about Apple's first-ever foldable. Not all of the chatter was positive, but the iPhone Duo did dominate the conversation at least. Now that the dust has settled, something truly wonderful has happened for Apple fans.

No, we're not talking about resolutions to any of the issues surrounding the launch. We're talking about the triumphant return of T-Mobile's free iPhone deals. For the last few weeks, T-Mobile pulled back on the free deals for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18 Pro. Times were tough, but we made it through.

For a limited time, you can get your hands on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this deal, you simply need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number to the Experience Beyond plan. Alternatively, you can save $1,200 on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max by doing the same.

The full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the three-year contract, you will be charged the remaining balance. You also need to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.

You're making a commitment to T-Mobile and getting a flagship phone for free in return. That sounds like a pretty good deal to us.

Get the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

When most people think of 3D printing, they imagine spare parts, clever home solutions, or, most likely, piles of articulated dragons. But you can create visual art in quite a few ways with a 3D printer.

Linux has thousands of commands, and most of us lean on the same few dozen. Many of you might not even use more than 10 unless it's absolutely needed. But it turns out, tucked away in the rest, are small utilities that quietly do the heavy lifting. Here are four that even seasoned users forget exist, along with the situations where they shine.

I put off trying ESP32 projects for a long time because I assumed they would be complicated and time-consuming, and I didn't have hours to spare. Building ESP32 projects from scratch can take time (though not nearly as much as I'd imagined), but you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Some commercial products contain ESP32 chips, and you may be able to flash them with custom firmware.

Your phone comes with Google Chrome, but you may want to swap it for Mozilla Firefox for privacy concerns and Google’s near-monopoly over the web. Yet there are many versions of Firefox floating around, and while the main version is fine for most, it may not be the best option for you.

That USB port on the back of your router looks like an easy way to share storage at home, maybe even set up a full-blown NAS. It does work, for what it's worth. But the router has a different main job, and using it as a file server comes with costs most people don’t expect until their network slows down. Here's why that's a bad idea.

If you're an adult, you're probably not going to spend your night getting candy from strangers, but that doesn't mean Halloween can't be magical for you as well. Whether you're going to a costume party or taking your own kids trick-or-treating, there are plenty of good reasons to dress up tonight, and plenty of great costume ideas floating around social media.

SEE ALSO: Halloween 2026 deals: Score free food from Chipotle, Dunkin', Krispy Kreme, Burger King, and more

Here are some of our favorite costumes, either because they're creative or funny or just incredibly well executed:

A throwback to one of the greatest children's shows of all time This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The Total Drama Island fit we didn't know we needed This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The Godfather of Soul himself This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. So cute you could eat them This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. And the streamers went all out This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. An homage to Willem Defoe This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. The Silver Surfer rides tonight This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

An alarming new survey from media and tech non-profit Common Sense Media has found that children begin interacting with AI chatbots at an alarmingly early age — with nearly half of 9-12-year-olds having bypassed the 13+ age restriction common to most LLMs. 

The survey is titled The 2026 Common Sense Media Census: Tech and Media Use by Tweens and Teens. In the paper, the organization conducted interviews with more than 1,200 American children aged 9 to 17, asking questions about AI use as well as television, gaming, and social media habits. More importantly, the interviews asked these young children how they feel about their own media consumption habits.

SEE ALSO: Lawsuit says ChatGPT persuaded person to stop taking epilepsy meds, leading to her death

Standout findings include the sharp rise in smartphone ownership, with more than half of 11-year-olds already owning a smartphone and near-universal smartphone access by age 17, as well as the incredible amount of time spent on screens: eight hours per day for teenagers and five hours per day for tweens. 

Because social scientists were caught unprepared by the massive impact social media has had on teen mental health, there's a strong push for more studies into the effects of AI interaction on teenagers, especially in the areas of school preparedness and mental health. 

A second study, titled "Exploring Artificial Intelligence [AI]: Understanding Relationships between AI Use and Mental Health Among Middle and High School Students," was commissioned by the JEF Foundation, a mental health advocacy group. They interviewed more than 5,000 American middle and high school students from 21 different schools between Oct. 2025 and April 2026, which resulted in the following four findings, taken verbatim from their report:

• Students use AI for a wide range of cognitive and emotional support, including turning to AI when they’re struggling emotionally.

• Certain uses of AI are associated with worse mental health and well-being outcomes, and greater lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

• Students who use AI while emotionally struggling have worse mental health and well-being outcomes, and greater history of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

• Patterns of AI use differ across demographics, with important implications for mental health disparities.

JED Foundation psychologist Kayla Anderson summarized the findings to NPR: "When young people are using AI, when they're in emotional distress, they're more likely to report poor mental health and well-being outcomes," but she was also quick to stress that the study did not establish causality. In other words, they don't know if AI is making teen mental health worse, or if teens with worse mental health are gravitating to AI chatbots for help. 

Thankfully, there are already a slew of new studies set to conclude soon investigating whether causality can be established. If so, expect lawmakers to come down hard on AI companies to impose more stringent age restrictions and accept greater liability for poor mental health outcomes among teenagers.

Documentaries are a great weekend watch, giving you a glimpse into some of the biggest events in history. You get to sit back on your couch and watch something for an hour and a half, and you don't even have to feel guilty about it because you're learning something, or at least that's what I tell myself.