NYT Connections Hint & AnswersPuzzle #1203 · September 26, 2026
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Get a single-word clue, a category hint, or the full answer for Puzzle #1203 — you choose exactly how much help you need.
Written by Connections Hints Team · Updated September 26, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Puzzle #1203 (September 26, 2026) is rated Medium difficulty.
- 16 words sort into 4 hidden categories — Yellow (easiest) to Purple (hardest).
- Every word and every category has its own spoiler-free hint below.
- Full answers are revealed only when you tap to see them — nothing spoils automatically.
Today's Tip
Today's NYT Connections puzzle starts with several familiar everyday words, but some have meanings that can pull you toward the wrong group.
Hint For Each Word
Tap any tile to see what it means in today's puzzle — no spoilers.
Hints For All Four Categories
Ordered from easiest to hardest — reveal only as much as you need.
Traps & Misdirects
Words placed on purpose to mislead you — spot these before you burn a guess.
GUM, BEANS
Both are things that can go in your mouth, but only GUM belongs to the breath-freshener group. BEANS belongs to the Purple group because of cool beans.
SPRAY, WASH
Both can describe cleaning-related products or actions. SPRAY is a breath freshener, while WASH belongs to the laundry group.
PRESS, RINGS
PRESS can make you think of newspapers or machines, while RINGS can refer to jewelry. Their actual meanings here are more specific: PRESS is a laundry step and RINGS are a feature of wood.
CAT, KNOTS
CAT may look like an animal category clue, while KNOTS may suggest ropes. Neither meaning is the intended connection. CAT belongs to cool cat, while KNOTS are features of wood.
CUCUMBER, GRAIN
Both can appear in food-related thoughts, but CUCUMBER belongs to the Purple expression group. GRAIN belongs to the wood group.
CUSTOMER, PRESS
Both are ordinary words that can have many meanings. CUSTOMER becomes cool customer, while PRESS refers to pressing a dress shirt at the laundry.
BURL, KNOTS
These two are especially useful together once you recognize the wood theme. But BURL can be unfamiliar, so it may initially look like an unrelated word.
BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER
These four have almost nothing obvious in common on their own. The hidden clue is the same word before each one: COOL.
GUM, MINT, BEANS, CUCUMBER
This is a tempting broad food-related group. But today's puzzle needs a much more precise connection. GUM and MINT are breath fresheners, while BEANS and CUCUMBER belong to the “COOL” expressions group.
Today's Full Answers
All four groups, revealed only when you're ready.
Answers are hidden by default so you can solve at your own pace. Tap below when you're ready to see everything.
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Our Connections hints help you crack all 16 words into their four correct groups — without spoiling the fun. Start with gentle, spoiler-free clues, and only unlock more as you need them. We'll walk you step by step, from subtle hints to full category reveals and today's complete answers.
How to Use Our NYT Connections Hints
Every player gets stuck at a different point in the puzzle — knowing exactly where you're stuck is the fastest way to find the right hint. Match your situation below, use that hint, and get back to solving.
You Don't Recognize a Word's Meaning
Puzzle editor Wyna Liu often picks words with a specific or unusual meaning, especially in the green, blue, and purple groups. If you don't know what a word means in context, you can't confidently place it.
Use the Word Hint. It explains what that word means for today's puzzle. Just tap any word on the board to open its hint card.
None of the 16 Words Are Clicking Into Groups
Connections categories are built around a theme, not just word meaning — so the link between words isn't always obvious at first glance.
Use the Category Hint. It points you toward the theme of a group without naming the category or listing its words. Start with the Yellow Category Hint — yellow is always the easiest.
You Think You Have a Group, But You're Not Sure
A wrong guess costs you one of your four allowed mistakes, so it pays to confirm before you commit.
Use the Category Name. It reveals the exact name of a group without showing which words belong to it. If your guess matches, go for it; if not, you've dodged a mistake. Tap the color you're testing to see it.
A Word Seems to Fit More Than One Group
Wyna Liu deliberately plants misleading words that look like they belong in more than one category — these trip up more players than anything else in the puzzle.
Use the Traps and Misdirects Hint. It flags the tricky words in today's puzzle and explains why they don't belong where you'd expect.
You Know the Category, Just Not All the Words
You've spotted the theme but can't pin down every word that fits it.
Use the Word Reveal. It uncovers one word at a time, so you only see as much as you need — open your identified category and reveal words one by one until the group is complete.
New to Connections, or want to get better?
The full rules, what each difficulty color means, and strategies for spotting traps live in one place — our complete how-to-play guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Today's Connections hints give you a small clue about each group without revealing the full answers right away. You can use them when you're stuck but still want to solve the puzzle yourself.
Still have a question, or spotted a mistake in today's puzzle? Get in touch.
