NYT Connections #1234 for Tuesday, October 27, 2026, brings a tricky mix of wordplay, ear anatomy and bell-themed categories. Here are today’s spoiler-free hints and all four group answers to help you solve the puzzle.
NYT Connections hints for October 27
- Yellow: Think about interfering with something, making unnecessary adjustments or getting involved where you probably shouldn’t.
- Green: Focus on hearing. These words name structures or components associated with the human ear.
- Blue: Ring! Each word can appear immediately before “bell” to form a familiar name or expression.
- Purple: Ring ring! This time, reverse the pattern. Each answer completes a familiar phrase beginning with “bell.”
Main trap: ANVIL, DRUM and STIRRUP might suggest tools, musical instruments or riding equipment. However, they share an anatomical connection. Meanwhile, DIVING and TOWER may appear related, but belong to different bell-themed groups.
Blue clue: JINGLE and LIBERTY are useful starting points. Both form recognizable expressions when followed by BELL. DIVING and TACO complete the group.
Purple clue: BOTTOMS and PEPPER may seem unrelated, but both follow BELL in familiar expressions. JAR and TOWER complete the same pattern.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Mess (with)
Answers: FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE
These words can describe interfering with, adjusting or treating something without sufficient seriousness.
FIDDLE: Make small adjustments or handle something unnecessarily.
MEDDLE: Interfere in another person’s affairs.
TINKER: Make minor changes or adjustments.
TRIFLE: Treat something lightly or interfere with it, as in “trifle with.”
All four fit the idea of messing with something.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Parts of the ear
Answers: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP
Each word refers to a structure associated with hearing.
ANVIL: A small middle-ear bone also called the incus.
CANAL: The ear canal carries sound toward the eardrum.
DRUM: The eardrum vibrates in response to sound waves.
STIRRUP: A tiny middle-ear bone called the stapes.
These four words identify parts of the human ear.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: ____ bell
Answers: DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO
Each word forms a familiar expression when followed by BELL.
DIVING: A diving bell is a chamber used for underwater work.
JINGLE: A jingle bell is a small bell that makes a ringing sound.
LIBERTY: The Liberty Bell is a historic American symbol in Philadelphia.
TACO: Taco Bell is a well-known fast-food restaurant chain.
The connection is the shared word BELL appearing after each answer.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: Bell ____
Answers: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER
Each answer completes a familiar expression beginning with BELL.
BOTTOMS: Bell-bottoms are trousers that widen toward the ankles.
JAR: A bell jar is a bell-shaped glass container.
PEPPER: A bell pepper is a common sweet pepper used in cooking.
TOWER: A bell tower is a structure built to house bells.
The trick is recognizing that BELL comes before these four words, unlike the blue category.
Play today’s puzzle on the official NYT Connections website.
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