The NYT Connections puzzle for September 28, 2026, is number 1205. This daily word game, curated by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu, requires players to find the hidden threads connecting 16 different words by grouping them into four distinct categories.
Connections Hints for September 28
If you are looking for a nudge in the right direction without seeing the full solution yet, these hints break down the themes for puzzle #1205.
- Yellow Category: Focus on the anatomy of specific plants and crops.
- Green Category: Items you would typically see served alongside a tray of raw seafood.
- Blue Category: Names of vehicles associated with a specific American automotive manufacturer.
- Purple Category: This category is purely linguistic; look for repeating patterns in how the words are spelled.
Category Difficulty Hints
- Yellow: These are all tall plants characterized by a specific structural element.
- Green: These ingredients provide the acidity or heat often paired with oysters.
- Blue: If you know your muscle cars and SUVs, this group will be immediate.
- Purple: Each word in this group follows a strict 9-letter structure (3+3+3).
SPOILER WARNING: The full answers and category names for NYT Connections #1205 follow below. Only continue reading if you want the puzzle solved.
NYT Connections Answers for September 28, 2026 (#1205)
Yellow: Things with stalks
Bamboo, Celery, Corn, Wheat
This group identifies plants and vegetables known for having a central, vertical stalk or stem as their primary structural feature.
Green: Oyster condiments
Horseradish, Lemon, Mignonette, Tabasco
These are the traditional accompaniments found at a raw bar, used to enhance the flavor of fresh oysters.
Blue: Dodge models
Challenger, Charger, Durango, Viper
These words represent iconic vehicle models that are currently or were recently in production by Dodge. This includes both high-performance muscle cars and standard SUVs.
Purple: Three letters plus repeated trigrams
Arkansans, Chihuahua, Possesses, Springing
This category is the most complex, focusing on a unique linguistic pattern. Each word consists of a three-letter prefix followed by a repeating three-letter pattern (trigram). For example, Arkansans is ARK-ANS-ANS, Chihuahua is CHI-HUA-HUA, Possesses is POS-SES-SES, and Springing is SPR-ING-ING. According to Forbes, this structural consistency is the defining link for the purple group today.
