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Verified archive for September 26, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1203

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 26, 2026

Connections puzzle #1203 for September 26, 2026 combines breath fresheners, dress-shirt laundry treatments, features of wood, and words that complete expressions beginning with “cool.”

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

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Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

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Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

How the September 26 board separates

Potential overlap comes from words that can function as verbs or nouns. Keep each test tied to the full source category rather than grouping words merely because they share a part of speech.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes concrete objects, actions, material features, and expression-based wordplay, so grammatical form alone does not settle every group.Biggest trapFOLD, PRESS, WASH, and SPRAY can all look like action words, but SPRAY belongs with the breath fresheners. FOLD, PRESS, and WASH instead join STARCH in the dress-shirt laundry category.Best first moveStart with BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, and RINGS. Their shared relationship is the exact broad category FEATURES OF WOOD, and removing them makes the laundry actions easier to evaluate.

Why the board is deceptive

One concrete set consists of GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, and SPRAY, all placed under the source category BREATH FRESHENERS.

The remaining categories ask solvers to recognize things done to a dress shirt at the laundry, features of wood, and four completions of expressions containing “cool.”

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Remove the wood-feature set first, then test FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, and WASH against the complete dress-shirt laundry wording. Group the four breath fresheners next, leaving BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, and CUSTOMER for the expression pattern.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Fresh-breath optionsReveal this group

What connects GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH and SPRAY?

GUM · MINT · MOUTHWASH · SPRAY

BREATH FRESHENERS. GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, and SPRAY make up the source category BREATH FRESHENERS.

Best anchor: MOUTHWASH provides a direct category anchor.

Dress-shirt laundry stepsReveal this group

What connects FOLD, PRESS, STARCH and WASH?

FOLD · PRESS · STARCH · WASH

THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY. FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, and WASH are grouped as THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY.

Best anchor: STARCH helps narrow the setting to shirt laundry.

Wood characteristicsReveal this group

What connects BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS and RINGS?

BURL · GRAIN · KNOTS · RINGS

FEATURES OF WOOD. BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, and RINGS share the source relationship FEATURES OF WOOD.

Best anchor: BURL points directly toward the wood context.

Words following “cool”Reveal this group

What connects BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER and CUSTOMER?

BEANS · CAT · CUCUMBER · CUSTOMER

"COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS. BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, and CUSTOMER fit the source category “COOL” THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS.

Best anchor: BEANS invites the expression COOL BEANS.

Today’s supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideWhy GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH and SPRAY Are Breath FreshenersExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow the Dress-Shirt Laundry Group WorksExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS and RINGS Are Features of WoodExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER and CUSTOMER Complete “Cool” ExpressionsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    BREATH FRESHENERS

    MOUTHWASH provides a direct category anchor.

  2. 2
    THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY

    STARCH helps narrow the setting to shirt laundry.

  3. 3
    FEATURES OF WOOD

    BURL points directly toward the wood context.

  4. 4
    "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS

    BEANS invites the expression COOL BEANS.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, and RINGS. Their shared relationship is the exact broad category FEATURES OF WOOD, and removing them makes the laundry actions easier to evaluate..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

This is a concrete relationship, although SPRAY can initially resemble the action words elsewhere on the board. groupFresh-breath options
BREATH FRESHENERS: MOUTHWASH provides a direct category anchor.
Three members readily read as actions, while STARCH requires checking the complete dress-shirt laundry relationship. groupDress-shirt laundry steps
THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY: STARCH helps narrow the setting to shirt laundry.
The relationship is concrete, but several members have unrelated everyday readings that can delay the material-based interpretation. groupWood characteristics
FEATURES OF WOOD: BURL points directly toward the wood context.
This group depends on testing each remaining word as part of an expression rather than reading it only in isolation. groupWords following “cool”
"COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS: BEANS invites the expression COOL BEANS.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Language guideMouthwash Meaning: Definition, Usage, and Connections Context

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideFold Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Connections Usage

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideStarch Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Connections Context

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

Read Ethan’s profile →