Connections archive · 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

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.

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 ?