Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,229 hints and answers for Thursday, October 22, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #1,229 puts football positions next to the starting pieces of bedding words. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: all four are the part of something made for a hand to close around: on a tool, a sword, a bag or a door.

PARTS TO BE GRASPED

GRIP · HANDLE · HILT · KNOB

Group 2 - Green

Hint: all four are forms a sculpture can take: one hangs from the ceiling and moves, and one is carved so it rises out of a flat surface.

KINDS OF SCULPTURES

BUST · MOBILE · RELIEF · STATUE

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: all four line up on an American football field, some on the line and some behind it.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL POSITIONS

END · GUARD · SAFETY · TACKLE

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: each of these starts a longer word, and all four finished words belong on a bed: add ET, ER, OW and ET.

STARTS OF BEDDING

BLANK · COMFORT · PILL · SHE

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "Any relation?"