Yesterday’s answers
Connections #1206 (September 29, 2026)ShowHide
- SECLUDED: HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY
- RIVER FEATURES: DELTA, DRAINAGE BASIN, MOUTH, STREAM BED
- FIRST WORDS OF PIXAR FILMS: FINDING, INSIDE, MONSTERS, TOY
- PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS: FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE
How Connections works
Connections gives you 16 words to sort into four groups of four that share something in common. Select four words and submit: you can make four mistakes. Each group has a colour showing its difficulty: yellow is the most straightforward, then green and blue, and purple is usually the trickiest, often wordplay.
What today’s answers mean
Connections often hides a word’s less common meaning. After you’ve solved a group, see the closest meaning of each of its words from our dictionary; it’s a good way to learn why they belong together.
Yellow group: the words and their meaningsShowHide
Category: SECURITIES
BOND · noun
(criminal law) money that must be forfeited by the bondsman if an accused person fails to appear in court for trial
“the judge set bail at $10,000”
Similar: bail
FUTURE · noun
bulk commodities bought or sold at an agreed price for delivery at a specified future date
OPTION · noun
the right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeited
STOCK · noun
a supply of something available for future use
“he brought back a large store of Cuban cigars”
Similar: store, fund
Green group: the words and their meaningsShowHide
Category: THINGS THAT ARE SHAKEN (NOT STIRRED)
ETCH A SKETCH
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
MARTINI · noun
a cocktail made of gin (or vodka) with dry vermouth
SPRAY PAINT
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
TAMBOURINE · noun
a shallow drum with a single drumhead and with metallic disks in the sides
Blue group: the words and their meaningsShowHide
Category: GANGSTER MOVIES
BUGSY
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
CASINO · noun
a public building for gambling and entertainment
DONNIE BRASCO
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
SCARFACE
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
Purple group: the words and their meaningsShowHide
Category: STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS
DECENT · adjective
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
“from a decent family”
Similar: nice
NOVELTY · noun
originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel
Similar: freshness
OCTOPUSSY
Not in our dictionary (it may be a name, phrase or newer word).
SEPTUM · noun
(anatomy) a dividing partition between two tissues or cavities
How to use these hints
- Try the group checker first: type four words from your game and press Check. It tells you if they’re a group, or “so close” when three of the four belong together, without revealing anything else.
- Start with the yellow group’s hint: one of its words is shown, so you know where to begin.
- Still stuck? Reveal the category name. Knowing the theme usually makes the other three words clear.
- Reveal the full group only if you need it, then move on to the next colour.
Strategy tips for Connections
- Look for red herrings. Usually five or more words seem to fit one theme, but only four belong. Find a word that can only go in one group first.
- Think beyond meanings. Purple groups often use wordplay: hidden words, words that go before or after another word, homophones or anagrams.
- Solve the hardest group last. Once three groups are done, the last four words are what’s left.
- Not sure what a word means? Look it up in the Online Dictionary: a less common meaning is often the key.
Hints for today’s other puzzles
Source and disclaimer: Connections is a puzzle game by The New York Times, and Connections is its trademark. This site is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by The New York Times. Please play the puzzle on the NYT Games site or app.
The hints, explanations, statistics and word meanings on this page are our own. We show the day’s answers (facts), hidden until you reveal them, but not the puzzle itself: no boards, grids or clue wording.
Rights holder with a concern? Contact us and we’ll review it promptly. See our disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new Connections puzzle come out?
Every day at midnight in your local time zone. This page updates daily and shows the puzzle for your date.
What do the colours mean?
They show difficulty: yellow is the easiest group, then green, blue and purple, the trickiest.
Do you have hints for other puzzles?
Yes: Wordle hints and Strands hints, updated every day.