A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1203
hints & answers for September 26, 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 26, 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 G, M, M and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GUM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BREATH FRESHENERS

Reveal all four words
  • GUM
  • MINT
  • MOUTHWASH
  • SPRAY

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FOLD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY

Reveal all four words
  • FOLD
  • PRESS
  • STARCH
  • WASH

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BURL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FEATURES OF WOOD

Reveal all four words
  • BURL
  • GRAIN
  • KNOTS
  • RINGS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BEANS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

"COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS

Reveal all four words
  • BEANS
  • CAT
  • CUCUMBER
  • CUSTOMER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BREATH FRESHENERS
  • Green: THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY
  • Blue: FEATURES OF WOOD
  • Purple: "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BREATH FRESHENERS

GUM · MINT · MOUTHWASH · SPRAY

Green

THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY

FOLD · PRESS · STARCH · WASH

Blue

FEATURES OF WOOD

BURL · GRAIN · KNOTS · RINGS

Purple

"COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS

BEANS · CAT · CUCUMBER · CUSTOMER

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.