A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1205
hints & answers for September 28, 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 28, 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 B, C, C and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BAMBOO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH STALKS

Reveal all four words
  • BAMBOO
  • CELERY
  • CORN
  • WHEAT

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

HORSERADISH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OYSTER CONDIMENTS

Reveal all four words
  • HORSERADISH
  • LEMON
  • MIGNONETTE
  • TABASCO

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHALLENGER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DODGE MODELS

Reveal all four words
  • CHALLENGER
  • CHARGER
  • DURANGO
  • VIPER

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ARKANSANS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS

Reveal all four words
  • ARKANSANS
  • CHIHUAHUA
  • POSSESSES
  • SPRINGING
Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS WITH STALKS
  • Green: OYSTER CONDIMENTS
  • Blue: DODGE MODELS
  • Purple: THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS WITH STALKS

BAMBOO · CELERY · CORN · WHEAT

Green

OYSTER CONDIMENTS

HORSERADISH · LEMON · MIGNONETTE · TABASCO

Blue

DODGE MODELS

CHALLENGER · CHARGER · DURANGO · VIPER

Purple

THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS

ARKANSANS · CHIHUAHUA · POSSESSES · SPRINGING

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.