Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a fun mix of plant parts, oyster toppings, Dodge vehicles, and a clever spelling trick. Some groups are easy to spot, while one is designed to throw you off.
If you need a little help, start with the hints below. If you’re ready for the solution, scroll down to the answers.
What Are Today’s NYT Connections Words?
NYT Connections #1205 for Monday, September 28, 2026, includes these 16 words:
CHIHUAHUA, LEMON, VIPER, BAMBOO, CELERY, TABASCO, ARKANSANS, DURANGO, SPRINGING, CHARGER, HORSERADISH, WHEAT, POSSESSES, MIGNONETTE, CORN, CHALLENGER
NYT Connections Hints
Need a nudge before seeing the answers? Here are the four categories:
- Yellow: Think about plants that grow on long, upright stems.
- Green: What might you find served with oysters on the half shell?
- Blue: These are all vehicle names from the same American automaker.
- Purple: Forget the meanings. Look closely at the letters and notice a repeating pattern.
Watch Out for This Trap
There’s a sneaky overlap in today’s puzzle. CELERY, LEMON, TABASCO, and HORSERADISH can all be associated with a Bloody Mary.
However, only CELERY belongs to the stalk-related group. Don’t let the drink connection pull you away from the plant words.
NYT Connections Answers for September 28, 2026
Spoiler warning: The full answers are below.
Yellow: Things With Stalks
BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT
These four are all plants that grow with stalks. CELERY is the tricky one because it can also make you think of a Bloody Mary.
Green: Oyster Condiments
HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO
These can all be used as condiments or toppings for raw oysters. MIGNONETTE might be the unfamiliar word here. It’s a tangy sauce traditionally made with vinegar and other ingredients, often served with oysters.
Blue: Dodge Models
CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER
These are all Dodge vehicle names. The Challenger and Charger are especially recognizable, while Durango and Viper complete the group.
Purple: Three Letters + Repeated Trigram
ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING
This is the wordplay group, and it’s probably the hardest to notice.
Each word can be split into three-letter chunks, with the final three-letter chunk repeated:
- ARK + ANS + ANS
- CHI + HUA + HUA
- POS + SES + SES
- SPR + ING + ING
Once you spot the pattern in CHIHUAHUA, the other three become much easier to identify.
Quick Connections Answer Glance
- Yellow: Things With Stalks – BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT
- Green: Oyster Condiments – HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO
- Blue: Dodge Models – CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER
- Purple: Three Letters + Repeated Trigram – ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING
How to Spot the Purple Group
Purple categories often have nothing to do with the meanings of the words. Instead, look for unusual spelling patterns.
If four words don’t seem to share a clear theme, break them into smaller chunks and look for repeated letters or sounds. Today’s puzzle hides the connection in the final six letters of each word.
You can also save this group for last and solve it by elimination after finding the other three.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections Answers #1204
If you missed Sunday’s puzzle, here were the answers for September 27, 2026:
- Yellow: BRONZE, CLAY, MARBLE, PLASTER
- Green: BANQUETTE, BOOTH, CHAIR, STOOL
- Blue: CARRIER, NETWORK, OPERATOR, PROVIDER
- Purple: BBQING, HOMING, LOHAN, WU-TANG
How Does NYT Connections Work?
NYT Connections gives you 16 words that must be divided into four groups of four. Each group shares a hidden connection. Want to play the game? here it is.
You get up to four mistakes, while the categories range from yellow, which is generally the easiest, to purple, which is usually the trickiest. A new puzzle becomes available each day at midnight in your local time zone.
Final Thoughts
Connections #1205 is a good example of why you shouldn’t lock in a category too quickly. The Bloody Mary connection makes several words look like they belong together, while the purple group hides its connection in the spelling.
Check back tomorrow for the next NYT Connections hints and answers, and follow GamerUrge for more daily puzzle help, gaming news, and guides.
