NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 16, 2026

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle , and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself.

Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 16, 2026 Bulgari meaning A luxurious jewelry retailer.

Cyrus meaning An Old Persian name meaning sun or throne.

Hungry meaning Feeling a natural urge or an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach from lack of food.

Span meaning The physical distance between two points, supports or limits.

Chip meaning A tiny fragment or flake broken off from a larger object like glass, wood or stone Mark meaning A stain, scratch, scar or smudge on a surface.

Nick meaning A small cut, notch or groove on a surface.

Scratch meaning To cut, scrape or mark a surface or skin lightly with something sharp, jagged or pointed.

Chicken meaning A feathered bird, often kept on farms for eggs and meat.

Coolidge meaning The 30th president of the United States.

Hippo meaning A large, semi-aquatic mammal native to sub-Saharan Africa.