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Verified archive for September 28, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1205

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 28, 2026

Connections puzzle #1205 for September 28, 2026 combines concrete objects and names with a final spelling pattern. The key is to require an exact four-word relationship before submitting a group.

Guide editorJordan EllisEditor

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

How the September 28 board comes together

Treat the last category as a spelling construction rather than a semantic relationship: ARK+ANS+ANS, CHI+HUA+HUA, POS+SES+SES, and SPR+ING+ING.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes plant terms, oyster accompaniments, vehicle model names, and a letter-pattern category, so checking exact four-word relationships is more reliable than relying on broad associations.Biggest trapCHALLENGER, CHARGER, and CHIHUAHUA all begin with CH, but that observation produces only three words. CHALLENGER and CHARGER belong with the Dodge models, while CHIHUAHUA belongs in the repeated-trigram group.Best first moveTest CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, and VIPER together. Their shared relationship is the exact category DODGE MODELS, giving you a clean four-word set without depending on a broad meaning.

Why the board is deceptive

The plant set uses the broad relationship THINGS WITH STALKS: BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, and WHEAT all satisfy the source category without requiring a narrower rule.

The remaining categories move from oyster condiments and Dodge models to words formed from three initial letters followed by a repeated three-letter sequence.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Begin with the four Dodge model names, then gather the four items that fit the exact oyster-condiment category. From the remaining eight, separate the things with stalks and verify the last four by dividing each into three letters plus the same trigram twice.

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.

Stalk-bearing thingsReveal this group

What connects BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN and WHEAT?

BAMBOO · CELERY · CORN · WHEAT

THINGS WITH STALKS. BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, and WHEAT complete the source category THINGS WITH STALKS. The relationship is the presence of stalks, not a narrower claim that all four are used in the same way.

Best anchor: CORN can help anchor the shared stalk relationship.

Accompaniments for oystersReveal this group

What connects HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE and TABASCO?

HORSERADISH · LEMON · MIGNONETTE · TABASCO

OYSTER CONDIMENTS. HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, and TABASCO form the exact OYSTER CONDIMENTS category. Search evidence also describes an oyster platter accompanied by mignonette sauce, grated horseradish, and lemon wedges.

Best anchor: MIGNONETTE is a useful anchor because its oyster sense is specific.

Names in the Dodge lineupReveal this group

What connects CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO and VIPER?

CHALLENGER · CHARGER · DURANGO · VIPER

DODGE MODELS. CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, and VIPER are the four entries in the source category DODGE MODELS. Their other possible readings are unnecessary for completing the group.

Best anchor: CHALLENGER and CHARGER provide a strong paired entry point.

Three letters followed by a doubled trigramReveal this group

What connects ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES and SPRINGING?

ARKANSANS · CHIHUAHUA · POSSESSES · SPRINGING

THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS. Each word begins with three letters and then repeats a three-letter sequence: ARK+ANS+ANS, CHI+HUA+HUA, POS+SES+SES, and SPR+ING+ING.

Best anchor: POSSESSES exposes the POS plus SES plus SES construction.

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 These Are THINGS WITH STALKSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow the OYSTER CONDIMENTS Group WorksExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow to Identify the DODGE MODELSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideExplaining THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMSExplain 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
    THINGS WITH STALKS

    CORN can help anchor the shared stalk relationship.

  2. 2
    OYSTER CONDIMENTS

    MIGNONETTE is a useful anchor because its oyster sense is specific.

  3. 3
    DODGE MODELS

    CHALLENGER and CHARGER provide a strong paired entry point.

  4. 4
    THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS

    POSSESSES exposes the POS plus SES plus SES construction.

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: Test CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, and VIPER together. Their shared relationship is the exact category DODGE MODELS, giving you a clean four-word set without depending on a broad meaning..

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 group depends on preserving the broad wording “things with stalks” rather than replacing it with a narrower botanical or culinary rule. groupStalk-bearing things
THINGS WITH STALKS: CORN can help anchor the shared stalk relationship.
The relationship is specific to condiments associated with oysters, so a general food grouping would be too broad. groupAccompaniments for oysters
OYSTER CONDIMENTS: MIGNONETTE is a useful anchor because its oyster sense is specific.
Several entries also work as ordinary words or other proper names, so the useful test is whether all four satisfy the exact model-name category. groupNames in the Dodge lineup
DODGE MODELS: CHALLENGER and CHARGER provide a strong paired entry point.
This is a structural spelling relationship that becomes checkable by splitting every word into three equal-letter components. groupThree letters followed by a doubled trigram
THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS: POSSESSES exposes the POS plus SES plus SES construction.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideCorn Meaning: Grain, Maize, and the Connections Sense

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

Read the language guide Language guideLemon Meaning: Fruit, Color, Informal Uses, and Puzzle Context

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

Read the language guide Language guideMignonette Meaning: Oyster Sauce, Plant, Pepper, and Color

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

Jordan Ellis

Jordan connects editorial explanations with practice tools, custom puzzles and the site’s future original games.

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