NYT Connections #1217 for Saturday, October 10, 2026, is here with a fresh set of 16 words to sort into four groups. Today’s puzzle features academic writing, assumptions, social media and a tricky boxing-related category.
NYT Connections hints for October 10
- Yellow: Think about the materials and planning stages involved in writing a college paper.
- Green: Look for words that describe making an assumption or believing something is likely true.
- Blue: Think about the different sections you regularly visit on Facebook, Instagram or other social media platforms.
- Purple: Think about Muhammad Ali and look for words that can come before a sport associated with him.
Main trap: Today’s Connections puzzle #1217 mixes familiar academic terms with words that have several meanings. FIGURE and DRAFT may initially seem connected because both can appear in discussions about writing or planning. However, they belong to different categories.
Blue clue: FEED and PROFILE are useful starting points. Both are familiar parts of social media platforms. Look for two additional words describing where users communicate with others and receive updates about activity on their accounts.
Purple clue: KICK and SHADOW may appear unrelated, but both form established words when combined with the same six-letter term. BEAT and UN complete the pattern. The connection becomes easier once you think beyond traditional boxing matches.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Useful when writing a paper
Answers: DRAFT, NOTES, OUTLINE, THESIS
Each answer represents something commonly used when preparing an academic paper, essay or research assignment.
A DRAFT is an early version of a written assignment, while NOTES help organize information gathered during research or reading.
An OUTLINE provides the structure of a paper before writing begins, and a THESIS expresses the central argument or main position the writer intends to develop.
NOTES and OUTLINE are useful starting points because both relate directly to organizing written work. THESIS may be slightly harder to identify because it can also refer to a substantial academic research project.
The main challenge is recognizing that all four words describe different elements of the writing process rather than one specific type of document.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Presume
Answers: FIGURE, GATHER, IMAGINE, SUPPOSE
Each answer can describe making an assumption, reaching a conclusion or believing something without having complete certainty.
FIGURE can mean to think or conclude something, as in figuring that a meeting will begin soon. GATHER can mean to infer information from available evidence.
IMAGINE can express an assumption about a situation, while SUPPOSE means to assume or consider something likely to be true.
SUPPOSE and IMAGINE are particularly useful clues because both are frequently used when discussing uncertain situations.
FIGURE is a potential trap because it can also refer to a number, shape or person. GATHER may be confusing because its more familiar meaning involves collecting objects or bringing people together.
Once players recognize the shared meaning of presuming something, all four answers fit naturally into the same group.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: Social media sections
Answers: FEED, MESSAGES, NOTIFICATIONS, PROFILE
Each answer names a common section or feature found on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
A FEED displays posts, photographs, videos and other updates, while MESSAGES allow users to communicate privately with other accounts.
NOTIFICATIONS alert users about activity such as comments, mentions and interactions. A PROFILE displays information about an account, including its posts and other details.
FEED and PROFILE are strong starting points because both are widely recognized parts of social media interfaces.
MESSAGES and NOTIFICATIONS complete the category by representing sections where users receive communications and activity updates.
The tricky part is that these words also have everyday meanings outside social media. FEED can relate to food, while PROFILE can describe a person’s characteristics or appearance.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: ____ boxing
Answers: BEAT, KICK, SHADOW, UN
Each answer can be combined with boxing to form a familiar word: beatboxing, kickboxing, shadowboxing and unboxing.
Beatboxing involves producing rhythmic sounds and percussion effects using the mouth, lips and voice.
Kickboxing is a combat sport that combines punching and kicking techniques, while shadowboxing involves practicing boxing movements against an imaginary opponent.
Unboxing means removing an item from its packaging, often while demonstrating or reviewing a product in a video.
KICK and SHADOW are useful clues because both have recognizable connections to combat sports and boxing practice.
UN is the most unusual answer because it is a prefix rather than a complete standalone word in this context. Players must recognize that adding BOXING creates UNBOXING, a common term associated with product videos.
This group is challenging because the completed words refer to very different activities, including music, martial arts, training and product demonstrations. The shared BOXING ending is the key to solving the category.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and check their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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