NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 12, 2026


Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We’ve got what you need to understand the clues for today’s puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that’s also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
Condition meaning
The physical state or situation that a person, animal or object is in.
Shape meaning
The external boundary, outline or surface form of an object, distinct from color, texture or material.
Situation meaning
A combination of circumstances, conditions or events happening at a particular time and place.
State meaning
A condition or way of being that exists at a particular time
Bear meaning
To accept or put up with something painful, difficult or unpleasant
Handle meaning
To put up with or tolerate stress or pressure.
Stand meaning
To endure something difficult, unpleasant or painful.
Weather meaning
The short-term state of the Earth’s atmosphere at a specific place and time, measured by factors like temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation.
Abbreviation meaning
A shortened or contracted form of a word or phrase used to represent the full version.
Contraction meaning
The act or result of becoming smaller, shorter or reduced
Elision meaning
The omission of a sound, syllable or word in speech or writing, often to make pronunciation faster, easier or to fit a poetic meter.
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Nickname meaning
An informal name used instead of a person’s, place’s or thing’s real name
Alkylamide meaning
An organic compound made by combining a fatty acid chain with an amine group.
Calamari meaning
The culinary term for squid.
Mandarin meaning
The most widely spoken form of the Chinese language.
Melamine meaning
A white, crystalline organic compound with the chemical formula C₃H₆N₆ that is widely used to manufacture durable plastics.
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