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Updated and verified for October 11, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1218

NYT Connections #1218 Hints Today (October 11, 2026)

The October 11, 2026 board combines practical verbs, recurring monthly bills, glove-compartment items, and four words that complete the phrase ending in GAMBITS. Read each word in the category context before committing to a set.

Guide editorSofia RamirezEditor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

How the board divides

Tone labels are display metadata for the application. The category titles and word membership come from the verified source. Explanations keep the official relationships literal and avoid attributing intent to the editor.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes practical-use verbs, recurring household bills, glove-compartment items, and words that can precede GAMBITS. The category relationships are literal, but several words invite plausible alternatives.Biggest trapAPPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE, WIELD and EMPLOY can all suggest using something, while CABLE, INTERNET and PHONE can suggest communications services. The official group labels determine which sense belongs in the completed set.Best first moveStart with the concrete household set: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP and REGISTRATION all fit the exact category of things you might find in a glove compartment. Then use the remaining words to test the verb and phrase patterns.

Why the board is deceptive

The official groups cover four practical verbs, four monthly bills, four glove-compartment items, and four words ending in GAMBITS.

Several verbs overlap in broad meaning, so the safest route is to preserve the exact category wording and remove confirmed words before testing the remainder.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Begin with the concrete glove-compartment group, then identify the four monthly bills. Among the remaining verbs, APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE and WIELD form the exact PUT TO USE category; the final four complete the phrase ending in GAMBITS.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

PUT TO USEReveal this group

What connects APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE and WIELD?

APPLY · HARNESS · UTILIZE · WIELD

PUT TO USE. These four words can describe putting something to use. APPLY means to put something to use for a practical purpose, UTILIZE means to use something effectively, HARNESS has a supported figurative use involving making use of something, and WIELD can mean to manage successfully.

Best anchor: The shared anchor is practical use, not an identical grammatical construction.

MONTHLY BILLSReveal this group

What connects CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET and PHONE?

CABLE · ELECTRICITY · INTERNET · PHONE

MONTHLY BILLS. CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET and PHONE are the four source words in the MONTHLY BILLS category. The group is a category of bills, so the words should be read as bill types rather than as a claim about one shared technology.

Best anchor: The anchor is the official bill category itself.

THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENTReveal this group

What connects GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP and REGISTRATION?

GLOVES · ICE SCRAPER · MAP · REGISTRATION

THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT. GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP and REGISTRATION are the four official examples of things you might find in a glove compartment. The category describes possible contents, not a narrower function shared by every item.

Best anchor: The concrete vehicle-storage context identifies the set.

ENDING IN GAMBITSReveal this group

What connects EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE and SYNTACTIC?

EMPLOY · PATRICK · PERUSE · SYNTACTIC

ENDING IN GAMBITS. EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE and SYNTACTIC are the four source words in the category ENDING IN GAMBITS. The relationship is the supplied wordplay pattern: each word participates in a phrase ending in GAMBITS.

Best anchor: The anchor is the exact phrase-ending relationship.

Today’s supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideWhy APPLY, HARNESS, UTILIZE and WIELD Mean PUT TO USEExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy CABLE, ELECTRICITY, INTERNET and PHONE Are MONTHLY BILLSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP and REGISTRATION Fit a Glove CompartmentExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow EMPLOY, PATRICK, PERUSE and SYNTACTIC Relate to ENDING IN GAMBITSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    PUT TO USE

    The shared anchor is practical use, not an identical grammatical construction.

  2. 2
    MONTHLY BILLS

    The anchor is the official bill category itself.

  3. 3
    THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT

    The concrete vehicle-storage context identifies the set.

  4. 4
    ENDING IN GAMBITS

    The anchor is the exact phrase-ending relationship.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with the concrete household set: GLOVES, ICE SCRAPER, MAP and REGISTRATION all fit the exact category of things you might find in a glove compartment. Then use the remaining words to test the verb and phrase patterns..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Moderate groupPUT TO USE
PUT TO USE: The shared anchor is practical use, not an identical grammatical construction.
Moderate groupMONTHLY BILLS
MONTHLY BILLS: The anchor is the official bill category itself.
Straightforward groupTHINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT
THINGS YOU MIGHT FIND IN A GLOVE COMPARTMENT: The concrete vehicle-storage context identifies the set.
Moderate groupENDING IN GAMBITS
ENDING IN GAMBITS: The anchor is the exact phrase-ending relationship.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Sofia Ramirez

Sofia verifies puzzle dates, public numbers, source facts and the archive details that keep daily guides reliable.

Read Sofia’s profile →