bootcut
adjectiveDescribing trousers that flare slightly from the knee down to fit over boots.
Daily puzzle explanationPUZZLE WORDS · SIMPLY EXPLAINED
Connections Definitions for Monday, November 9, 2026
Go beyond a one-line meaning. Explore a clear explanation, a natural example sentence and extra dictionary meanings for each of the sixteen words, without revealing the groups.
16daily words
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Showing all 16 words
card shark
nounA professional card player who makes a living by cheating at card games.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
a professional card player who makes a living by cheating at card games
con job
nounA scheme to cheat someone out of money or property by gaining their trust.
Daily puzzle explanationdistressed
adjectiveDeliberately worn, frayed or faded to look old.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
adjective Meaning 2
generalized feeling of distress
adjective Meaning 3
afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief
Example: “too upset to say anything”
Show 2 more dictionary meanings
- adjective
facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty
Example: “distressed companies need loans and technical advice”
- adjective
suffering severe physical strain or distress
Example: “he dropped out of the race, clearly distressed and having difficulty breathing”
flimflam
nounA swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
fun sponge
This exact spelling does not have a standard headword in the WordNet 3.1 data or a stored daily explanation. WordNet is a substantial reference, but it does not include every name, abbreviation, inflected form or puzzle-specific spelling.
gamma ray
nounElectromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength
grapefruit spoon
nounA spoon with a serrated tip, used for scooping out the segments of a grapefruit.
Daily puzzle explanationlow-rise
adjectiveCut so the waistband sits low on the hips.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
adjective Meaning 2
used of buildings of one or only a few stories and usually no elevator; low
Example: “looking out over the roofs of low-rise apartment buildings”
mint leaf
nounThe aromatic leaf of the mint plant, used as a herb and flavoring.
Daily puzzle explanationnavy seal
nounA member of a Naval Special Warfare unit who is trained for unconventional warfare.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
a member of a Naval Special Warfare unit who is trained for unconventional warfare
Example: “SEAL is an acronym for Sea Air and Land”
rip-off
nounA swindle, or something sold at an unfairly high price.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
the act of stealing
shell game
nounA swindling sleight-of-hand game.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
a swindling sleight-of-hand game; victim guesses which of three things a pellet is under
skinny
adjectiveVery thin; of jeans, cut narrow and close-fitting.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
confidential information about a topic or person
Example: “he wanted the inside skinny on the new partner”
adjective Meaning 3
being very thin
Example: “a child with skinny freckled legs”
Show 3 more dictionary meanings
- adjective
giving or spending with reluctance
Example: “our cheeseparing administration”
- adjective
fitting snugly
Example: “a tightly-fitting cover”
- adjective
of or relating to or resembling skin
steak knife
nounA sharp table knife used in eating steak.
Daily puzzle explanationOther dictionary meanings
noun Meaning 2
a sharp table knife used in eating steak
tape dispenser
nounA holder that keeps a roll of adhesive tape and lets you tear off pieces.
Daily puzzle explanationHow to read these definitions
The first explanation is written to make the word easy to understand in ordinary English. Where available, an original example sentence shows how the word can be used. Additional entries are separate senses from Princeton WordNet 3.1, not alternative answers to the puzzle.
WordNet is a lexical reference rather than a complete dictionary of every name, slang term, abbreviation or new expression. A missing entry does not mean a word is invalid.
Previous Connections definitions
Daily puzzle record: Fetched from the date-specific public NYT Games JSON endpoint and validated against the requested puzzle date and required fields. The endpoint is undocumented and may change. It does not provide independent editorial hints.
Lexical reference: Princeton WordNet 3.1, hosted on this site. About WordNet · License and attribution.
The example sentences in the daily explanations are original illustrations. Wordle Hint is an independent puzzle helper and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times.
Connections Definitions questions
What does this Connections Definitions page show?
It lists all sixteen words from the selected daily Connections board. Each entry includes a plain-English meaning, a fuller explanation and an illustrative example where available, followed by other dictionary senses and related words. It does not show the four categories or group answers.
Where do the definitions and examples come from?
The main word meanings and expanded explanations are editorial descriptions written for this page. Additional meanings, parts of speech, examples and related terms are drawn from the locally hosted Princeton WordNet 3.1 lexical database and labelled separately. The example sentences in the main entries are original illustrations.
Why can one word have several meanings?
Words often have different meanings depending on how they are used. A word can also function as more than one part of speech. The page separates the daily explanation from WordNet senses so you can compare them without confusing one meaning for another.
Why might a word have no WordNet definition?
WordNet does not cover every name, abbreviation, inflection or puzzle-specific form. When there is no direct headword, the page says so rather than inventing a dictionary meaning.
Can I see more meanings and related words?
Yes. Open the additional WordNet meanings under a word or follow its dictionary link to search the full English Dictionary, including parts of speech, synonyms and examples.
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