Need help with today’s NYT Connections? Here are spoiler-free hints for September 28, 2026, puzzle #1205, followed by the four categories and answers when you’re ready to reveal them.
NYT Connections hints for September 28
- Yellow: Think about things that grow upward from a long supporting stem.
- Green: Think about what you might add to an oyster before eating it.
- Blue: Think of vehicles made by the same American car brand.
- Purple: Ignore the meanings at first and study the letters. Each word contains a three-letter sequence that appears twice.
Main trap: The first three groups are largely based on familiar real-world associations, but the Purple group works very differently. Trying to connect its words by meaning can send you in the wrong direction. The key is examining how the words are spelled.
Blue clue: CHALLENGER and CHARGER are strong anchors. If you recognize them as Dodge vehicles, DURANGO and VIPER should help complete the set.
Purple clue: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES and SPRINGING may appear to have almost nothing in common. Break each word into smaller letter patterns and look for a three-letter sequence that occurs twice.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Things with stalks
Answers: BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT
All four are associated with stalks. BAMBOO grows in tall stalk-like canes, CELERY is known for its edible stalks, and both CORN and WHEAT grow on upright stalks.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Oyster condiments
Answers: HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO
Each can accompany oysters. LEMON is a familiar addition, while HORSERADISH, MIGNONETTE and TABASCO are also commonly paired with oysters for extra acidity, heat or flavor.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: Dodge models
Answers: CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER
All four are vehicle model names associated with Dodge. CHALLENGER and CHARGER are especially recognizable performance-car names, while DURANGO and VIPER complete the group.
CHALLENGER and CHARGER provide the strongest starting clues because seeing those two together can quickly point toward the Dodge connection.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: Three letters plus repeated trigrams
Answers: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING
Each word begins with three letters followed by a three-letter sequence that appears twice: ARK + ANS + ANS, CHI + HUA + HUA, POS + SES + SES and SPR + ING + ING.
This is the puzzle’s main wordplay category because the connection comes from the construction of the words rather than their definitions.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and check their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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