HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, and PSYCHS look like words with spelling mistakes. There’s a reason for that. These four entries hide the names of horror movies, and spotting the original titles is the trickiest part of NYT Connections puzzle #1233 for October 26, 2026.
The other groups take a different approach. You’ll need to recognize everyday replies, identify four kinds of mats, and connect some familiar words to American Kennel Club dog breed classifications.
Need a little help before revealing the solution? Start with the hints below. The complete answers and explanations follow if you’re ready to check your guesses.
Spoilers ahead! The next sections reveal today’s NYT Connections categories and answers.
NYT Connections Hints for October 26
Today’s board contains 16 words, and your task is to sort them into four groups of four. Each group shares a connection, but some words may seem to fit more than one category at first.
Here are four clues to get you started:
- Yellow: What you might say when someone asks how life is going.
- Green: Think of a word that completes four familiar types of floor coverings.
- Blue: These terms classify different groups of dogs.
- Purple: Famous horror movie titles with their final letters changed.
One-Word Hints
Still stuck? These words can help you narrow down the possibilities without revealing every answer.
- Yellow: MANAGING
- Green: PRAYER
- Blue: HERDING
- Purple: HALLOWEEK
Try finding the other three words connected to each hint before moving on to the full solution.
NYT Connections Answers Today
Ready to see how the board fits together? Here are all four categories and their answers for October 26.
- Yellow: Responses to “How are you?” – CHILLING, MANAGING, NOT BAD, SAME OLD
- Green: Kinds of mats – PRAYER, WELCOME, WRESTLING, YOGA
- Blue: AKC dog breed groups – HERDING, HOUND, SPORTING, TOY
- Purple: Horror movies with last letter changed – HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, PSYCHS
The purple group relies on wordplay, while the green group becomes much easier once you identify the word that connects all four entries.
Yellow: Responses to “How Are You?”
Answers: CHILLING, MANAGING, NOT BAD, SAME OLD
Imagine a friend asking how you’re doing. Any of these four expressions could work as a casual reply.
CHILLING suggests you’re relaxing and taking things easy. MANAGING means you’re getting by, NOT BAD gives a mildly positive answer, and SAME OLD tells the other person that not much has changed.
CHILLING is the potential trap here. The word also sounds appropriate for a horror-themed category, but its intended meaning in this group relates to an everyday conversation.
Green: Kinds of Mats
Answers: PRAYER, WELCOME, WRESTLING, YOGA
This group has a simple connection: add the word mat after each answer.
A prayer mat provides a surface for prayer, while a welcome mat usually sits near a doorway. Wrestling mats offer a padded surface for the sport, and yoga mats provide grip and cushioning during exercises.
If PRAYER stood out to you, the challenge was finding three other words that complete the same type of phrase. Thinking about common word combinations rather than individual definitions makes this category easier to spot.
Blue: AKC Dog Breed Groups
Answers: HERDING, HOUND, SPORTING, TOY
The American Kennel Club (AKC) organizes recognized dog breeds into groups based on their characteristics and traditional roles. Today’s four answers represent those classifications.
The Herding group includes breeds developed to manage livestock. Hounds have traditionally helped hunters track animals by scent or sight, while Sporting breeds often assist hunters in the field. The Toy group includes small companion breeds.
These words can point in different directions when you read them individually. HERDING might suggest farm work, SPORTING could describe athletics, and TOY might bring children’s playthings to mind. Recognizing the connection to dog breeds brings the four answers together.
Purple: Horror Movies With Their Last Letters Changed
Answers: HALLOWEEK, HOSTED, JAWN, PSYCHS
The purple group disguises four horror movie titles by changing their final letters. You need to recognize the films rather than look for a shared definition.
| Puzzle word | Original movie title | Letter change |
|---|---|---|
| HALLOWEEK | Halloween | N becomes K |
| HOSTED | Hostel | L becomes D |
| JAWN | Jaws | S becomes N |
| PSYCHS | Psycho | O becomes S |
HALLOWEEK is the clearest starting point because it closely resembles Halloween. Once you spot the movie connection, HOSTED, JAWN, and PSYCHS become easier to decode.
This group rewards a different kind of thinking from the others. Instead of asking what the words mean, compare their spellings with familiar horror movie titles.
How to Solve NYT Connections Puzzles
Connections rewards players who look for relationships between words instead of treating every entry separately. These strategies can help with future puzzles, too.
- Start with familiar expressions. Everyday replies and common phrases often reveal a straightforward group.
- Look for a shared word. If several entries combine with the same word, you may have found a category.
- Consider specific classifications. Animals, films, sports, and other subjects can provide connections that aren’t obvious from everyday definitions.
- Watch for misleading words. An entry might fit one theme at first glance but belong to a more specific group.
- Save your guesses. The game allows four mistakes, so check that all four words fit before submitting a category.
You can play the daily puzzle on the official NYT Games Connections page.
Final Thoughts
Today’s Connections puzzle moves from everyday conversation to familiar word combinations, dog breed classifications, and horror movie wordplay. The purple group stands out because the answers look incorrect until you recognize the films behind them.
Which category gave you the most trouble today? Follow GamerUrge for more daily puzzle answers, gaming guides, and the latest gaming news.
