Fri, Nov 13

Connections Answers for October 31, 2026 #1238

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TENNIS RACKET

SHAKESPEARE

SICK

SHAKEN

SITCOM

TASSEL

DRY

STAYCATION

MARIONETTE

GUITAR

DIRTY

KILLER

GNARLY

DOWNFALL

WICKED

YYellow groupEasiest

Yellow group · easiest

Slang terms of approval that outwardly sound like misfortunes or villains when taken literally.
WORDS MEANING GOOD THAT SOUND BAD
GNARLYKILLERSICKWICKEDthese slang words for "excellent" sound negative, since gnarly also means rough, killer relates to death, sick means ill, and wicked means evil.

GGreen groupFairly easy

Green group · fairly easy

Barkeeps ask these before pouring a classic cocktail.
MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS
DIRTYDRYSHAKENUPways to order a martini: with olive brine (dirty), little vermouth (dry), iced in a shaker (shaken), or chilled without ice served in a stemmed glass (up).

BBlue groupTricky

Blue group · tricky

Think of items that would be useless if you cut away their long, thin cords.
THINGS WITH STRINGS
GUITARMARIONETTETASSELTENNIS RACKETeach contains strings: a guitar's strings are plucked, a marionette is moved by strings, a tassel hangs by strings, and a racket is strung with cords.

PPurple groupTrickiest — wordplay

Purple group · trickiest — wordplay

Each word here opens with something you might say to get a pup to obey.
STARTING WITH DOG COMMANDS
DOWNFALLSHAKESPEARESITCOMSTAYCATIONeach begins with a dog command: DOWN-fall starts with "down," SHAKE-speare with "shake," SIT-com with "sit," and STAY-cation with "stay.

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About the Connections for October 31, 2026

Connections is a daily category puzzle from The New York Times. This page keeps the hints and answers for this one puzzle. Today's puzzle is always on the main Connections hints and answers page.

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