Today’s puzzle features four hidden categories that require players to look beyond the most obvious word associations.
Several words may appear to fit multiple groups, making the intended connections harder to identify at first glance.
Players can use the hints below before checking the complete answers and spoilers.
The New York Times Connections puzzle for September 15, 2026, challenges players to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on their hidden connections. While some categories may seem straightforward, several words can fit more than one group, making the puzzle trickier than it first appears. Players can use the hints below for a nudge before checking the categories and complete answers.
Players looking for a little help before seeing the answers can use these category clues:
Yellow group: show the way
Green group: lot of noise this thing can make
Blue group: secretly in a bed?
Purple group: you might not need to think about these for a while
These clues point toward the four categories without immediately revealing every answer.
For players who need an extra push, one word from each category can help reveal the intended connections.
Yellow group: TRAIN
Green group: HANDLE
Blue group: PLANT
Purple group: DESSERT
The four groups in today’s puzzle are:
Yellow group: instruct
Green group: parts of a whistling kettle
Blue group: undercover operative
Purple group: things that appear at the end
Yellow group: COACH, DIRECT, GUIDE, TRAIN
Green group: HANDLE, LID, SPOUT, WHISTLE
Blue group: ASSET, MOLE, PLANT, SLEEPER
Purple group: CABOOSE, DECEMBER, DESSERT, EPILOGUE
Today’s NYT Connections mixes familiar activities and concepts with less obvious word associations. Some entries may initially fit multiple categories, creating distractions as players work through the board.
The Green group is particularly challenging since the connection relies on the figurative use of ‘spout’ rather than a literal meaning.
Overall, today’s puzzle combines straightforward associations with metaphorical connections, requiring players to look beyond the most obvious meanings before committing to a group.