The NYT Connections puzzle for September 18, 2026, is number 1195. This edition arrives exactly 1,195 days since the game first launched in June 2023, and associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu has constructed a grid that relies heavily on aviation and structural misdirection.
Hints for Today’s Connections
If you are looking for a push in the right direction without seeing the full solution, consider these thematic clues:
- Yellow: These words describe specific intervals or checkpoints within a larger sequence.
- Green: Think of a restaurant menu or a tasting room where you get a little bit of everything.
- Blue: These are the specific technical phases you experience while traveling through the air.
- Purple: Every word in this group can be followed by the same four-letter word to create a common compound term or phrase.
The ‘Flight’ Misdirection
The primary trap in today’s puzzle involves the word FLIGHT. While players might naturally associate it with aviation terms like BOARDING or LANDING, it actually belongs in the Green group. In this context, FLIGHT refers to a curated selection of drinks or food for tasting. Interestingly, the Blue group is actually defined by the word FLIGHT itself, even though the word is not one of the four answers in that category.
The ‘Court’ Trap
The word BRIEF is a specific misdirection intended to make you think of legal proceedings or a courtroom. While it fits that theme, it actually belongs in the Purple group, paired with other words that share a common suffix.
SPOILER WARNING: The full answers for NYT Connections #1195 follow below.
Connections Groups and Answers
Yellow: Segment of a Process
- PHASE
- ROUND
- STAGE
- STEP
This category is straightforward, focusing on the individual parts of a linear progression or competition.
Green: Assortments of Food/Drink
- FLIGHT
- MEDLEY
- PLATTER
- SAMPLER
These terms describe a variety of items served together, often used in culinary settings to allow for tasting different flavors.
Blue: Parts of a Flight
- BOARDING
- CRUISE
- LANDING
- TAKEOFF
These are the distinct operational stages of an airplane’s journey from the gate to its destination.
Purple: ____ CASE
- BRIEF
- PILLOW
- STAIR
- UPPER
Each of these words precedes “CASE” to form a new term: Briefcase, Pillowcase, Staircase, and Uppercase. This is the most abstract group of the day, as reported by Forbes in their daily puzzle analysis.
Players who struggle with their daily streaks can utilize the Connections Bot, which provides a numeric score and a detailed analysis of performance efficiency after the puzzle is completed.
