NYT Connections Answer Today (#1247) – 9 Nov 2026 Solution & Hints
- About Today’s Connections
- The 16 Words
- Definitions of the 16 Words
- General Hints
- Category Titles
- One Word per Category
- Complete Solution (Click to Reveal)
About Today’s Connections
Puzzle #1247 (published 9 Nov 2026). Sort 16 words into four groups of four, based on a hidden connection. Some words look like they belong together and don’t — that’s by design.
The 16 Words
Here are the 16 words, sorted alphabetically to avoid spoilers:
- BOOTCUT
- CARD SHARK
- CON JOB
- DISTRESSED
- FLIMFLAM
- FUN SPONGE
- GAMMA RAY
- GRAPEFRUIT SPOON
- LOW-RISE
- MINT LEAF
- NAVY SEAL
- RIP-OFF
- SHELL GAME
- SKINNY
- STEAK KNIFE
- TAPE DISPENSER
Definitions of the 16 Words
| BOOTCUT | A jeans cut that stays narrow through the thigh and flares slightly at the ankle to fit over boots. |
| CARD SHARK | Someone unusually skilled (and often sneaky) at card games, especially ones involving betting. |
| CON JOB | A scheme designed to trick someone out of their money or trust. |
| DISTRESSED | Fabric that’s been deliberately faded, torn, or worn-looking to seem aged. |
| FLIMFLAM | Old-fashioned slang for a swindle or deceptive trick. |
| FUN SPONGE | Someone, usually said jokingly, who drains the enjoyment out of a social situation. |
| GAMMA RAY | A high-energy form of electromagnetic radiation given off by radioactive decay or cosmic events. |
| GRAPEFRUIT SPOON | A spoon with a notched, pointed tip made for scooping citrus segments out of the rind. |
| LOW-RISE | A style of pants or jeans that sits below the natural waistline. |
| MINT LEAF | The leafy part of the mint plant, often used as a garnish or in drinks. |
| NAVY SEAL | A member of the U.S. Navy’s elite special operations force. |
| RIP-OFF | A purchase or deal that cheats the buyer out of fair value. |
| SHELL GAME | A con trick that hides a small object under one of several moving shells or cups. |
| SKINNY | A jeans fit that hugs the leg tightly from hip to ankle. |
| STEAK KNIFE | A knife with a sharp or serrated blade made for cutting cooked meat at the table. |
| TAPE DISPENSER | A small device that holds a roll of tape and lets you tear off a clean strip. |
General Hints
- Think about ways someone might try to separate you from your money without you noticing right away.
- These all describe how a pair of jeans fits or looks, from waist height to fabric finish.
- Picture kitchen and desk tools that use tiny jagged teeth to cut cleanly through something.
- Each answer is an everyday phrase that happens to end with a creature that lives in the ocean.
Category Titles
- 🟨 Yellow: Deceitful scheme
- 🟩 Green: Jeans descriptors
- 🟦 Blue: Things with serrated edges
- 🟪 Purple: Ending in sea creatures
One Word per Category
- 🟨 Yellow: SHELL GAME
- 🟩 Green: SKINNY
- 🟦 Blue: STEAK KNIFE
- 🟪 Purple: NAVY SEAL
Complete Solution
The full breakdown is below — tap to reveal all four groups:
[CLICK TO REVEAL: Full Solution]
NYT Connections #1247 — Full Groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Deceitful scheme → CON JOB, FLIMFLAM, RIP-OFF, SHELL GAME
- 🟩 Green: Jeans descriptors → BOOTCUT, DISTRESSED, LOW-RISE, SKINNY
- 🟦 Blue: Things with serrated edges → GRAPEFRUIT SPOON, MINT LEAF, STEAK KNIFE, TAPE DISPENSER
- 🟪 Purple: Ending in sea creatures → CARD SHARK, FUN SPONGE, GAMMA RAY, NAVY SEAL
The purple group is the one that trips people up — each phrase reads completely normally until you notice they all happen to end on an ocean animal hiding in plain sight.
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