A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, September 25 (game #1202).
Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.
What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
NYT Connections today (game #1203) - today's words
Today's NYT Connections words are…
- MINT
- PRESS
- GRAIN
- BEANS
- STARCH
- CAT
- CUCUMBER
- RINGS
- GUM
- FOLD
- KNOTS
- CUSTOMER
- WASH
- MOUTHWASH
- BURL
- SPRAY
NYT Connections today (game #1203) - hint #1 - group hints
What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: Oral hygiene methods
- GREEN: Stages of attire care
- BLUE: Timber markings
- PURPLE: The opposite of hot stuff
Need more clues?
We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…
NYT Connections today (game #1203) - hint #2 - group answers
What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?
- YELLOW: BREATH FRESHENERS
- GREEN: THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY
- BLUE: FEATURES OF WOOD
- PURPLE: "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.
NYT Connections today (game #1203) - the answers
The answers to today's Connections, game #1203, are…
- YELLOW: BREATH FRESHENERS: GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY
- GREEN: THINGS DONE TO A DRESS SHIRT AT THE LAUNDRY: FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH
- BLUE: FEATURES OF WOOD: BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS
- PURPLE: "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS: BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER
- My rating: Easy
- My score: Perfect
Today I scored another Purple First to add to my collection.
Whenever I see the word CAT I immediately think of the word cool, as it’s an expression that’s always amused me in part because of the song Cool For Cats by Squeeze and equally because of Top Cat, my favorite cartoon as a kid.
From here I just said the word cool to myself in front of every tile. Fortunately, I had the office to myself as I did this, so I was able to maintain my reputation as a cool CUSTOMER.
Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, September 25, 2026, game #1202)
- YELLOW: LUXE: BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK
- GREEN: PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCK: ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING
- BLUE: FAMOUS DANS: AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE
- PURPLE: TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTER: BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.
On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.
It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.
It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.