Connections Hints for October 22, 2026: Clues and Answers

Today's Connections has four hidden groups of four. Start with a gentle nudge and only open more if you need it.

Welcome back, puzzlers. Let’s keep things light and let the pattern do the talking.

MOBILECOMFORTBLANKSAFETYRELIEFGRIPENDBUSTHANDLETACKLEPILLKNOBSHEGUARDHILTSTATUE

Hint 1: One word from each group

Each of these words belongs to a different group.

Hint 2: A nudge for each group

A gentle push toward each theme, easiest to hardest.

Little things you close your fingers around for steady control.
One floats, one stands alone, one rises from a surface, one shows just the upper half.
Think classic spots on a field, each with a very different job.
Each one kicks off a common longer word.

Hint 3: Yellow (easiest) group theme

The yellow group is Parts To Be Grasped.

Hint 4: Green group theme

The green group is Kinds Of Sculptures.

Hint 5: Blue group theme

The blue group is American Football Positions.

Hint 6: Purple (hardest) group theme

The purple group is Starts Of Bedding.

Show all four answers

Parts To Be Grasped

GRIP, HANDLE, HILT, KNOB

Kinds Of Sculptures

BUST, MOBILE, RELIEF, STATUE

American Football Positions

END, GUARD, SAFETY, TACKLE

Starts Of Bedding

BLANK, COMFORT, PILL, SHE

About this puzzle

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): Parts To Be Grasped

GRIP: (transitive or intransitive) To take hold (of), particularly with the hand.
HANDLE: The part of an object which is (designed to be) held in the hand when used or moved.
HILT: The handle of a sword, consisting of grip, guard, and pommel, designed to facilitate use of the blade and afford prot...
KNOB: A rounded protuberance, especially one arising from a flat surface; a fleshy lump or caruncle.

Green: Kinds Of Sculptures

BUST: (transitive, colloquial, chiefly US) To break.
MOBILE: Pertaining to or by agency of mobile phones.
RELIEF: The removal of stress or discomfort.
STATUE: A three-dimensional work of art, usually representing a person or animal, usually created by sculpting, carving, mold...

Blue: American Football Positions

END: The terminal point of something in space or time.
GUARD: A person who, or thing that, protects or watches over something.
SAFETY: The condition or feeling of being safe; security; certainty.
TACKLE: (sports, countable) A play where a player attempts to take control over the ball from an opponent, as in rugby or foo...

Purple (hardest): Starts Of Bedding

BLANK: Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in.
COMFORT: Contentment, ease.
PILL: (broadly) A small, usually round or cylindrical object designed for easy swallowing, usually containing some sort of ...
SHE: A female.