Today's puzzle · Puzzle #1227
NYT Connections Hints & Answers — October 20, 2026 (#1227)
Group hints and answers for the NYT Connections puzzle on . Get a spoiler-free nudge for each group, or reveal the full solution — your call.
Difficulty: Hard
Spoiler control
Choose how much to reveal
Reveal one step at a time — nudges first, full answers only if you ask.
1. Group nudges spoiler-free
- Yellow: Ways to bring something to a close.
- Green: Someone who does another person's bidding.
- Blue: Named styles of facial hair above the lip.
- Purple: Each word sounds like a familiar Disney name.
2. One word from each group a foothold
- Yellow: CLOSE
- Green: MINION
- Blue: CHEVRON
- Purple: ARIAL
3. The four category names no words yet
- Yellow: FINISH
- Green: LACKEY
- Blue: MUSTACHES
- Purple: HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS
4. Reveal groups one by one
Yellow group
FINISH
- CLOSE
- END
- STOP
- WRAP
Green group
LACKEY
- MINION
- POODLE
- PUPPET
- STOOGE
Blue group
MUSTACHES
- CHEVRON
- HORSESHOE
- PENCIL
- WALRUS
Purple group
HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS
- ARIAL
- BELL
- DOCK
- MINI
5. Reveal everything full spoilers
Yellow — FINISH
- CLOSE
- END
- STOP
- WRAP
Green — LACKEY
- MINION
- POODLE
- PUPPET
- STOOGE
Blue — MUSTACHES
- CHEVRON
- HORSESHOE
- PENCIL
- WALRUS
Purple — HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS
- ARIAL
- BELL
- DOCK
- MINI
NYT Connections #1227 — quick answers
What are today's Connections categories?
FINISH; LACKEY; MUSTACHES; HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS.
What are all the answers?
- FINISH: CLOSE, END, STOP, WRAP
- LACKEY: MINION, POODLE, PUPPET, STOOGE
- MUSTACHES: CHEVRON, HORSESHOE, PENCIL, WALRUS
- HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS: ARIAL, BELL, DOCK, MINI
Also for: Connections hints 10/20/26, 10-20-26, 10 20 26, 10/20/2026, and puzzle #1227.
Also stuck on Strands, Wordle, Spelling Bee or Mini Crossword ?
Today's puzzle, in a nutshell
Mustache shapes and Disney sound-alikes are the traps. Once FINISH and LACKEY clear, purple only clicks if you hear Ariel, Belle, Doc, and Minnie.