A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #96
hints & answers for September 15, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows September 15, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, C, G and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUFFALO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BOVIDS

Reveal all four words
  • BUFFALO
  • COW
  • GOAT
  • SHEEP

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, G, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BEAM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EMIT LIGHT

Reveal all four words
  • BEAM
  • GLOW
  • RADIATE
  • SHINE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Picture the equipment in a routine at the Olympics.

Show one word

FLOOR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

Reveal all four words
  • FLOOR
  • HORSE
  • RINGS
  • VAULT

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, E, E and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CUTIE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

Reveal all four words
  • CUTIE
  • ENVY
  • EXCEL
  • SEEDY
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BOVIDS
  • Green: EMIT LIGHT
  • Blue: GYMNASTICS APPARATUS
  • Purple: WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BOVIDS

BUFFALO · COW · GOAT · SHEEP

Green

EMIT LIGHT

BEAM · GLOW · RADIATE · SHINE

Blue

GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

FLOOR · HORSE · RINGS · VAULT

Purple

WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

CUTIE · ENVY · EXCEL · SEEDY

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.