Today's Connections has four hidden groups of four. Start with a gentle nudge and only open more if you need it.
Hint 1: One word from each group
Each of these words belongs to a different group.
- Yellow (easiest): HEEDS
- Green: BEST
- Blue: CHEERS
- Purple (hardest): AUTOCRUISE
Hint 2: Yellow (easiest) group theme
The yellow group is Follows, As Rules.
Hint 3: Green group theme
The green group is Outdo.
Hint 4: Blue group theme
The blue group is Things That Come In Threes.
Hint 5: Purple (hardest) group theme
The purple group is Ending In Actors Named Tom.
Show all four answers
Follows, As Rules
HEEDS, MINDS, REGARDS, RESPECTS
Outdo
BEST, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP
Things That Come In Threes
CHEERS, STOOGES, STRIKES, WISHES
Ending In Actors Named Tom
AUTOCRUISE, FOOLHARDY, MULHOLLAND, THANKS
About this puzzle
- Edited by Wyna Liu
- Groups are listed from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple).
Connections deep dive
More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.
Why each word belongs in its group, with a short dictionary meaning where one exists.
Yellow (easiest): Follows, As Rules
- HEEDS: (transitive) To mind; to regard with care; to take notice of; to attend to; to observe.
- MINDS: an open-source and distributed social network.
- REGARDS: A greeting at the end of a letter or e-mail communication.
- RESPECTS: (often with "last" or "final) regards or respect expressed for a deceased person, usually at the same time as offerin...
Green: Outdo
- BEST: Most superior; most favorable.
- ECLIPSE: (astronomy) An alignment of astronomical objects whereby one object comes between the observer (or notional observer)...
- SURPASS: (transitive) To go beyond or exceed (something) in an adjudicative or literal sense.
- TOP: The highest or uppermost part of something.
Blue: Things That Come In Threes
- CHEERS: (ambitransitive) To say "cheers" as a toast (to someone).
- STOOGES: One who knowingly allows himself or herself to be used for another's profit; a dupe.
- STRIKES: the third studio album by the American Southern rock band Blackfoot.
- WISHES: A desire, hope, or longing for something or for something to happen.
Purple (hardest): Ending In Actors Named Tom
- AUTOCRUISE
- FOOLHARDY: Marked by unthinking recklessness with disregard for danger; boldly rash; hotheaded.
- MULHOLLAND: A surname from Irish; variant form Mullholland.
- THANKS: An expression of appreciation or gratitude.
Play today's Connections at The New York Times
More hints for October 8, 2026
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