Connections Hints

Thursday, November 12, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — November 12, 2026

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

ARCTIC CHAR
CHANGE PURSE
COMEDY ROAST
DOC BROWN
FLUX CAPACITOR
GLADIATOR SANDALS
GOOD HEAVENS
GREAT SCOTT
HOLY SMOKES
JIMINY CRICKET
MARTY MCFLY
MOONLIGHT SONATA
ROCKY ROAD
SHIFT DRESS
SWING SET
YOU'RE TOAST
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

"GADZOOKS!"Straightforward
STARTING WITH VARIATIONSModerate
ENDING IN WAYS TO COOK THINGSTricky
STARTING WITH BEST PICTURE OSCAR WINNERSDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

"GADZOOKS!"Straightforward
OLD-FASHIONED EXCLAMATIONS OF SURPRISE OR SHOCK+ 3 more…
STARTING WITH VARIATIONSModerate
EACH PHRASE BEGINS WITH A WORD MEANING 'CHANGE' OR 'TRANSITION'+ 3 more…
ENDING IN WAYS TO COOK THINGSTricky
THE LAST WORD IN EACH PHRASE IS A METHOD OF COOKING+ 3 more…
STARTING WITH BEST PICTURE OSCAR WINNERSDevious
EACH PHRASE BEGINS WITH A BEST PICTURE OSCAR WINNER+ 3 more…
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Full solution
"GADZOOKS!"Straightforward
GOOD HEAVENS,GREAT SCOTT,HOLY SMOKES,JIMINY CRICKET

GOOD HEAVENS, GREAT SCOTT, HOLY SMOKES, and JIMINY CRICKET are all old-fashioned interjections expressing shock or amazement, similar to 'Gadzooks!'

STARTING WITH VARIATIONSModerate
CHANGE PURSE,FLUX CAPACITOR,SHIFT DRESS,SWING SET

CHANGE PURSE, FLUX CAPACITOR, SHIFT DRESS, and SWING SET all start with words (CHANGE, FLUX, SHIFT, SWING) that are synonyms for variation or transition

ENDING IN WAYS TO COOK THINGSTricky
ARCTIC CHAR,COMEDY ROAST,DOC BROWN,YOU'RE TOAST

ARCTIC CHAR (char), COMEDY ROAST (roast), DOC BROWN (brown), and YOU'RE TOAST (toast) all end in words that describe ways to cook food

STARTING WITH BEST PICTURE OSCAR WINNERSDevious
GLADIATOR SANDALS,MARTY MCFLY,MOONLIGHT SONATA,ROCKY ROAD

GLADIATOR SANDALS (Gladiator), MARTY MCFLY (Marty), MOONLIGHT SONATA (Moonlight), and ROCKY ROAD (Rocky) all begin with films that won the Academy Award for Best Picture

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