A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1192
hints & answers for September 15, 2026

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, 2026. 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 C, D, G and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COACH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

INSTRUCT

Reveal all four words
  • COACH
  • DIRECT
  • GUIDE
  • TRAIN

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, L, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HANDLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLE

Reveal all four words
  • HANDLE
  • LID
  • SPOUT
  • WHISTLE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, M, P and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

ASSET belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE

Reveal all four words
  • ASSET
  • MOLE
  • PLANT
  • SLEEPER

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CABOOSE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE END

Reveal all four words
  • CABOOSE
  • DECEMBER
  • DESSERT
  • EPILOGUE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: INSTRUCT
  • Green: PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLE
  • Blue: UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE
  • Purple: THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE END

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

INSTRUCT

COACH · DIRECT · GUIDE · TRAIN

Green

PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLE

HANDLE · LID · SPOUT · WHISTLE

Blue

UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE

ASSET · MOLE · PLANT · SLEEPER

Purple

THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE END

CABOOSE · DECEMBER · DESSERT · EPILOGUE

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.