NYT Connections #1247 for November 9, 2026 has four color groups and sixteen tiles.
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Select a color to see its clue, or use the answer section for the complete solution. Definitions and explanations follow in their own section.
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Connections hints (no spoilers)
Yellow
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Ways of describing a swindle or a dishonest enterprise.
Green
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Words that describe styles or finishes of denim trousers.
Blue
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Objects whose working edge or outline is saw-toothed.
Purple
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Each phrase ends with the name of a sea creature.
Connections answers — November 9, 2026
Yellow Ways of describing a swindle or a dishonest enterprise. Reveal group Hide group
DECEITFUL SCHEME
- CON JOB
- FLIMFLAM
- RIP-OFF
- SHELL GAME
CON JOB names a swindle, FLIMFLAM can mean deception or a swindle, RIP-OFF can mean theft or exploitation, and SHELL GAME can describe a fraud that hides what is happening by shifting things around. Use those dishonest-dealing senses consistently across the four entries.
Read this group’s word explanationsGreen Words that describe styles or finishes of denim trousers. Reveal group Hide group
JEANS DESCRIPTORS
- BOOTCUT
- DISTRESSED
- LOW-RISE
- SKINNY
These are common descriptors for jeans. Bootcut describes a leg that widens slightly toward the hem to fit over boots, low-rise refers to a waistband sitting below the natural waist, and skinny describes a very narrow leg. Distressed refers to denim treated to look worn, with fading, fraying or small tears. Each term can describe other garments too, but together they point clearly to jeans.
Read this group’s word explanationsBlue Objects whose working edge or outline is saw-toothed. Reveal group Hide group
THINGS WITH SERRATED EDGES
- GRAPEFRUIT SPOON
- MINT LEAF
- STEAK KNIFE
- TAPE DISPENSER
Picture the toothed edge of a grapefruit spoon, the margin of a mint leaf, the blade of a serrated steak knife and the cutter on a tape dispenser. Each supplies the saw-toothed shape described by the category. Steak knives come in both straight-edged and serrated models, and this group uses the serrated form.
Read this group’s word explanationsPurple Each phrase ends with the name of a sea creature. Reveal group Hide group
ENDING IN SEA CREATURES
- CARD SHARK
- FUN SPONGE
- GAMMA RAY
- NAVY SEAL
The trick is in the final word of each phrase. Card shark ends in shark, fun sponge ends in sponge, gamma ray ends in ray, and navy seal ends in seal. Shark, sponge, ray and seal are all sea creatures, so the group is built on word endings rather than on the overall meanings of the phrases. The surface phrases are unrelated to one another, which is what makes the pattern easy to miss.
Read this group’s word explanationsWhy these words fit
Read explanations
Full spoilers below: a closer look at every group and the wordplay behind it.
Yellow
DECEITFUL SCHEME
CON JOB names a swindle, FLIMFLAM can mean deception or a swindle, RIP-OFF can mean theft or exploitation, and SHELL GAME can describe a fraud that hides what is happening by shifting things around. Use those dishonest-dealing senses consistently across the four entries.
- CON JOB
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A CON JOB is a swindle or deception. CON can mean to deceive someone after gaining their confidence, and the dictionary gives con job as an example of the fraud-related sense.
- FLIMFLAM
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FLIMFLAM can mean a deception or swindle, and the verb means to cheat someone. Its nonsense or humbug sense provides another meaning to distinguish while solving.
- RIP-OFF
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A rip-off is an unfair price or a fraudulent deal, and the term can also describe something that copies another work. In this group the emphasis is on being cheated or overcharged.
- SHELL GAME
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A shell game is a betting trick in which a small object is hidden under one of several shells or cups that are moved around. The phrase also describes any scheme that deceives by constantly shifting the situation.
Green
JEANS DESCRIPTORS
These are common descriptors for jeans. Bootcut describes a leg that widens slightly toward the hem to fit over boots, low-rise refers to a waistband sitting below the natural waist, and skinny describes a very narrow leg. Distressed refers to denim treated to look worn, with fading, fraying or small tears. Each term can describe other garments too, but together they point clearly to jeans.
- BOOTCUT
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Bootcut jeans have a leg that is fitted through the thigh and flares slightly below the knee, a shape meant to sit over boot shafts. The term describes the cut of the trouser leg.
- DISTRESSED
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Distressed denim is deliberately treated to look worn, often with fading, frayed hems or small rips. The word describes the finish rather than the fit.
- LOW-RISE
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Low-rise jeans sit lower on the hips than a traditional waistline. The term describes where the waistband rests on the body.
- SKINNY
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Skinny jeans are cut close to the leg from hip to ankle. The word describes a narrow fit rather than a fabric or wash.
Blue
THINGS WITH SERRATED EDGES
Picture the toothed edge of a grapefruit spoon, the margin of a mint leaf, the blade of a serrated steak knife and the cutter on a tape dispenser. Each supplies the saw-toothed shape described by the category. Steak knives come in both straight-edged and serrated models, and this group uses the serrated form.
- GRAPEFRUIT SPOON
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A GRAPEFRUIT SPOON can have a serrated edge for cutting into citrus fruit. The teeth around its working edge supply the blue connection.
- MINT LEAF
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Mint leaves commonly have a serrated margin, meaning the edge is lined with small tooth-like points. The leaf itself is not a tool, but its outline shares the saw-tooth feature.
- STEAK KNIFE
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A serrated STEAK KNIFE has teeth along its cutting edge. Straight-edged steak knives are also made, so picture the serrated variety for this category.
- TAPE DISPENSER
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A tape dispenser usually includes a serrated cutting bar that tears tape at a clean point. The toothed metal edge is the shared feature, not the roll of tape itself.
Purple
ENDING IN SEA CREATURES
The trick is in the final word of each phrase. Card shark ends in shark, fun sponge ends in sponge, gamma ray ends in ray, and navy seal ends in seal. Shark, sponge, ray and seal are all sea creatures, so the group is built on word endings rather than on the overall meanings of the phrases. The surface phrases are unrelated to one another, which is what makes the pattern easy to miss.
- CARD SHARK
-
A CARD SHARK is a skilled card player or someone who cheats at cards. SHARK is also the name of a fish, supplying the sea-creature ending and a possible distraction toward the swindles in yellow.
- FUN SPONGE
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A fun sponge is an informal term for someone who drains the enjoyment from a gathering. The final word, sponge, is also a simple sea animal, supplying the hidden creature.
- GAMMA RAY
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A gamma ray is a high-energy form of electromagnetic radiation. The final word, ray, is also the name of a flat-bodied sea fish, which is the hidden creature.
- NAVY SEAL
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A Navy SEAL is a member of a U.S. naval special operations force. The final word, seal, is also a marine mammal, providing the hidden sea creature.
How difficult is this puzzle?
CARD SHARK can suggest the swindles in yellow, but its final word supplies the purple connection. The blue group asks you to picture edges across kitchen utensils, stationery and a plant. In green, distinguish a garment’s finish from its fit and waistband height.
More Connections answers
Frequently asked questions
What are the four groups in Connections #1247?
The yellow group is deceitful schemes: CON JOB, FLIMFLAM, RIP-OFF and SHELL GAME. The green group is jeans descriptors: BOOTCUT, DISTRESSED, LOW-RISE and SKINNY. The blue group is things with serrated edges: GRAPEFRUIT SPOON, MINT LEAF, STEAK KNIFE and TAPE DISPENSER. The purple group is phrases ending in sea creatures: CARD SHARK, FUN SPONGE, GAMMA RAY and NAVY SEAL.
Why do GRAPEFRUIT SPOON and MINT LEAF belong together?
Both can have a serrated edge. A grapefruit spoon uses a toothed edge to cut into citrus fruit, while spearmint has a toothed leaf margin. Picture that outline to connect a utensil with a leaf.
How does the purple group work?
Each phrase ends with a word that is also a sea creature: shark in CARD SHARK, sponge in FUN SPONGE, ray in GAMMA RAY and seal in NAVY SEAL. The full phrases have unrelated meanings, so the connection depends on the final word rather than the phrase as a whole.
Does every steak knife have a serrated edge?
Steak knives are made with straight edges as well as serrated ones. This puzzle uses the serrated variety. Its teeth supply the same edge shape found on the grapefruit spoon, mint leaf and tape-dispenser cutter.
Is DISTRESSED about jeans or about emotions?
In this puzzle it describes a denim finish. Distressed jeans are treated to look worn, with fading, fraying or small rips. The emotional sense of distressed is unrelated to the jeans group.
Sources & further reading
Sources & further reading
- The New York Times — Connections
- American Heritage Dictionary — con
- American Heritage Dictionary — flimflam
- American Heritage Dictionary — rip-off
- American Heritage Dictionary — shell game
- Levi’s — jeans fits and sizing
- American Heritage Dictionary — distressed
- American Heritage Dictionary — low-rise
- Winco — serrated grapefruit spoon
- North Carolina State Extension — spearmint leaf characteristics
- WÜSTHOF — straight-edged and serrated steak knives
- Scotch Brand — tape-dispenser instructions
- Merriam-Webster — card shark
- Wiktionary — fun sponge
- American Heritage Dictionary — gamma ray
- U.S. Navy — Navy SEAL
- American Heritage Dictionary — shark
- American Heritage Dictionary — sponge
- American Heritage Dictionary — ray
- American Heritage Dictionary — seal