Today’s word-game hints, updated daily
HintCorner

Daily word-game guide

Verified archive for September 29, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1206

NYT Connections #1206 Hints & Answers (September 29, 2026)

This board combines ordinary descriptive words, river terminology, film-title openings, and phrases containing Greek-letter spellings. The safest route is to test exact relationships rather than rely on broad associations.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

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.

September 29, 2026 puzzle explained

How to read the board

The category labels and word assignments below reproduce the verified source. Tone and difficulty fields are presentation metadata, not claims about official color or ranking.

Overall difficultyModerateBiggest trapSeveral entries can suggest more than one reading, especially DELTA and the phrase entries. Test a proposed set against the exact category wording before committing.Best first moveStart with the four entries that are multiword phrases: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, and ORAL PHASE. Their shared phrase structure is a useful route into the letter-pattern category.

Why the board is deceptive

The four official categories use different kinds of relationships: descriptive language, river features, film openings, and hidden letter sequences.

Some entries have plausible readings outside their official group, so a candidate set should be checked against every word and the source category title.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

A practical route is to inspect the phrase entries first, then collect the obvious river vocabulary and the four words that can describe a secluded setting. The remaining four entries resolve as FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS. Keep DELTA in the river group here, rather than switching to an unrelated sense.

Spoilers below

September 29, 2026 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.

SecludedReveal this group

What connects HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET and TUCKED AWAY?

HIDDEN · REMOTE · SECRET · TUCKED AWAY

SECLUDED. Each entry can describe something secluded: HIDDEN is out of sight, REMOTE can be far away, SECRET is kept from others, and TUCKED AWAY can be hidden or difficult to find.

Best anchor: The shared idea is separation from ordinary view or access.

River featuresReveal this group

What connects DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH and STREAM BED?

DELTA · DRAINAGE BASIN · MOUTH · STREAM BED

RIVER FEATURES. The source groups DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, and STREAM BED as RIVER FEATURES. The supplied evidence supports a river delta, a drainage basin, and a streambed as river-related terms.

Best anchor: Read these four as named parts or features associated with rivers.

First words of Pixar filmsReveal this group

What connects FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS and TOY?

FINDING · INSIDE · MONSTERS · TOY

FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS. The verified category title places FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, and TOY together as first words of Pixar films. Treat the relationship as title openings, not as a general film or object category.

Best anchor: The exact relationship is the position of each word at the start of a film title.

Phrases hiding Greek lettersReveal this group

What connects FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK and ORAL PHASE?

FREEZE TAG · HOME GAME · MODEL TANK · ORAL PHASE

PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS. The source identifies these four phrases as hiding Greek letters. Their surface meanings are distractions; inspect the continuous letters in each phrase for the embedded pattern.

Best anchor: The category depends on hidden letter sequences inside the exact phrases.

September 29, 2026 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 guideSECLUDED Connections Group ExplainedExplain this connection Supporting clue guideRIVER FEATURES Connections Group ExplainedExplain this connection Supporting clue guideFIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS Connections Group ExplainedExplain this connection Supporting clue guidePHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS Connections Group ExplainedExplain 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 this puzzle’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    SECLUDED

    The shared idea is separation from ordinary view or access.

  2. 2
    RIVER FEATURES

    Read these four as named parts or features associated with rivers.

  3. 3
    FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS

    The exact relationship is the position of each word at the start of a film title.

  4. 4
    PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS

    The category depends on hidden letter sequences inside the exact phrases.

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.

This puzzle’s best first move: Start with the four entries that are multiword phrases: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, and ORAL PHASE. Their shared phrase structure is a useful route into the letter-pattern category..

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.

Accessible groupSecluded
SECLUDED: The shared idea is separation from ordinary view or access.
Moderate groupRiver features
RIVER FEATURES: Read these four as named parts or features associated with rivers.
Moderate groupFirst words of Pixar films
FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS: The exact relationship is the position of each word at the start of a film title.
Challenging groupPhrases hiding Greek letters
PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS: The category depends on hidden letter sequences inside the exact phrases.

Language background

Useful guides for this puzzle’s wordplay

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

Questions players ask

Questions about this puzzle

What makes Connections #1206 tricky?

Several entries can suggest more than one reading, especially DELTA and the phrase entries. Test a proposed set against the exact category wording before committing.

Where should I start with the September 29, 2026 puzzle?

Start with the four entries that are multiword phrases: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, and ORAL PHASE. Their shared phrase structure is a useful route into the letter-pattern category.

About the guide editor

Nora Bennett

An editor focused on spoiler-conscious daily puzzle guides and plain-English solving explanations.

Read Nora’s profile →