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Verified archive for October 15, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1222

NYT Connections #1222 Hints & Answers (October 15, 2026)

Connections #1222 for October 15, 2026 combines food preservation, sports scoring, terms for a lowest part, and altered spellings of low landforms.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

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

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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.

October 15, 2026 puzzle explained

How the October 15, 2026 board fits together

Treat every category title literally. The sports group concerns things you can score, while the final group concerns low-landform words represented with one letter changed.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes direct category matches with words that carry several possible meanings, plus one letter-change pattern.Biggest trapWords such as GOAL, RUN, BASE, FOOT, and VOLLEY may invite sports-related associations, but the confirmed sports category requires exactly BASKET, GOAL, RUN, and TOUCHDOWN.Best first moveStart with CURE, DRY, PICKLE, and SMOKE because all four satisfy the broad relationship WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD without narrowing that relationship to one particular process.

Why the board is deceptive

Two categories rely on direct semantic relationships: ways to preserve food and things you can score in sports.

The remaining categories ask you to recognize synonyms for a lowest part and four low landforms whose spellings have one letter changed.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Secure CURE, DRY, PICKLE, and SMOKE first, then isolate BASKET, GOAL, RUN, and TOUCHDOWN. From the remaining eight, collect BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, and FOUNDATION before reversing one changed letter in each final word to reveal a low landform.

Spoilers below

October 15, 2026 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.

Preservation methodsReveal this group

What connects CURE, DRY, PICKLE and SMOKE?

CURE · DRY · PICKLE · SMOKE

WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD. CURE, DRY, PICKLE, and SMOKE all satisfy the official relationship WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD.

Best anchor: Four food-preservation verbs

Scoring termsReveal this group

What connects BASKET, GOAL, RUN and TOUCHDOWN?

BASKET · GOAL · RUN · TOUCHDOWN

THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS. BASKET, GOAL, RUN, and TOUCHDOWN fit the category THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS.

Best anchor: Four things scored in sports

Terms for the bottomReveal this group

What connects BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT and FOUNDATION?

BASE · BOTTOM · FOOT · FOUNDATION

LOWEST PART. BASE, BOTTOM, FOOT, and FOUNDATION each fit the official relationship LOWEST PART.

Best anchor: Words naming a lowest part

Altered low landformsReveal this group

What connects CANNON, FORGE, RACINE and VOLLEY?

CANNON · FORGE · RACINE · VOLLEY

LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED. Changing one letter produces CANYON from CANNON, GORGE from FORGE, RAVINE from RACINE, and VALLEY from VOLLEY, matching LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED.

Best anchor: One-letter low-landform transformations

October 15, 2026 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 guideWays to Preserve Food in Connections #1222Explain this connection Supporting clue guideThings You Can Score in Sports in Connections #1222Explain this connection Supporting clue guideWords Meaning the Lowest Part in Connections #1222Explain this connection Supporting clue guideLow Landforms With One Letter Changed in Connections #1222Explain 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 this puzzle’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD

    Four food-preservation verbs

  2. 2
    THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS

    Four things scored in sports

  3. 3
    LOWEST PART

    Words naming a lowest part

  4. 4
    LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED

    One-letter low-landform transformations

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.

This puzzle’s best first move: Start with CURE, DRY, PICKLE, and SMOKE because all four satisfy the broad relationship WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD without narrowing that relationship to one particular process..

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.

The relationship is direct once the words are read as verbs connected with food. groupPreservation methods
WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD: Four food-preservation verbs
Several board words may suggest sports, so the key is applying the exact relationship of something a player or team can score. groupScoring terms
THINGS YOU CAN SCORE IN SPORTS: Four things scored in sports
The four entries work through a shared positional meaning rather than one shared physical object. groupTerms for the bottom
LOWEST PART: Words naming a lowest part
The relationship becomes available after testing a single-letter substitution in every remaining word. groupAltered low landforms
LOW LANDFORMS WITH A LETTER CHANGED: One-letter low-landform transformations

Language background

Useful guides for this puzzle’s wordplay

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

Questions players ask

Questions about this puzzle

What makes Connections #1222 tricky?

Words such as GOAL, RUN, BASE, FOOT, and VOLLEY may invite sports-related associations, but the confirmed sports category requires exactly BASKET, GOAL, RUN, and TOUCHDOWN.

Where should I start with the October 15, 2026 puzzle?

Start with CURE, DRY, PICKLE, and SMOKE because all four satisfy the broad relationship WAYS TO PRESERVE FOOD without narrowing that relationship to one particular process.

About the guide editor

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

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