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Verified archive for September 27, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1204

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 27, 2026

Connections puzzle 1204 combines materials, restaurant seating, telecommunications terms and a word-ending pattern involving Chinese dynasties. Solving it rewards testing complete four-word relationships instead of relying on promising pairs.

Guide editorSofia RamirezEditor

Start here

Take one step at a time

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

Need more than a hint?

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

Connections 1204 group overview

The tone values are display metadata. The group descriptions preserve the verified category titles and relationships without asserting an official difficulty order.

Overall difficultyMixed: three groups use direct shared categories, while one depends on recognizing dynasty names at word endings.Biggest trapSeveral words have broad everyday meanings, so isolated pairings may appear plausible without producing a verified four-word category.Best first moveBegin with BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE and PLASTER, which form the exact SCULPTURE MEDIA group.

Why the board is deceptive

The board contains three category-based sets and one set linked by fragments appearing at the ends of the words.

A reliable route is to confirm the sculpture materials first, then separate the seating and telecom terms before examining the remaining endings.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Select BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE and PLASTER first. Next collect BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR and STOOL as restaurant seating options. CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR and PROVIDER then complete TELECOM, leaving four words whose endings are Chinese dynasty names.

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.

Materials used for sculptureReveal this group

What connects BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE and PLASTER?

BRONZE · CLAY · MARBLE · PLASTER

SCULPTURE MEDIA. BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE and PLASTER share the verified category SCULPTURE MEDIA.

Best anchor: Four media for sculpture

Places to sit while diningReveal this group

What connects BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR and STOOL?

BANQUETTE · BOOTH · CHAIR · STOOL

RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS. BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR and STOOL are all included in the verified category RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS.

Best anchor: Restaurant seating choices

Telecommunications vocabularyReveal this group

What connects CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR and PROVIDER?

CARRIER · NETWORK · OPERATOR · PROVIDER

TELECOM. CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR and PROVIDER form the verified category TELECOM.

Best anchor: Terms connected by telecom

Words with dynasty-name endingsReveal this group

What connects BBQING, HOMING, LOHAN and WU-TANG?

BBQING · HOMING · LOHAN · WU-TANG

ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES. The relevant endings are QING in BBQING, MING in HOMING, HAN in LOHAN and TANG in WU-TANG, matching the verified category ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES.

Best anchor: Dynasty names at word endings

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 guideSCULPTURE MEDIA group guide for September 27, 2026Explain this connection Supporting clue guideRESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS group guide for September 27, 2026Explain this connection Supporting clue guideTELECOM group guide for September 27, 2026Explain this connection Supporting clue guideENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES group guide for September 27, 2026Explain 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
    SCULPTURE MEDIA

    Four media for sculpture

  2. 2
    RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS

    Restaurant seating choices

  3. 3
    TELECOM

    Terms connected by telecom

  4. 4
    ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES

    Dynasty names at word endings

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: Begin with BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE and PLASTER, which form the exact SCULPTURE MEDIA group..

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.

Direct category recognition from four material names. groupMaterials used for sculpture
SCULPTURE MEDIA: Four media for sculpture
Requires keeping the relationship at the broad level of restaurant seating options. groupPlaces to sit while dining
RESTAURANT SEATING OPTIONS: Restaurant seating choices
A shared field connects four broad terms that may also appear in other contexts. groupTelecommunications vocabulary
TELECOM: Terms connected by telecom
The relationship depends on inspecting the final letters rather than grouping the complete words by meaning. groupWords with dynasty-name endings
ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES: Dynasty names at word endings

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

Sofia Ramirez

Sofia verifies puzzle dates, public numbers, source facts and the archive details that keep daily guides reliable.

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