Play Connections #1205
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1205 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Think of tall plants you could harvest from a field or garden.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These add tang or heat to a seafood bar favorite.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
You would see these names on vehicles from a Detroit automaker.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Ignore the meanings and look at how the letters are built.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
A spicy brunch cocktail can include a crunchy plant, citrus and hot sauce, which blurs the line between the plant group and the condiment group.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- THINGS WITH STALKS
- OYSTER CONDIMENTS
- DODGE MODELS
- THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS
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Difficulty: Medium. Three groups are straightforward trivia, while the last one depends on spotting a letter pattern that is hard to see at first glance.
Connections #1205 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 28, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
BAMBOO is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS WITH STALKS.
Show all four words
BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT
Show one word
HORSERADISH is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is OYSTER CONDIMENTS.
Show all four words
HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO
Show one word
CHALLENGER is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is DODGE MODELS.
Show all four words
CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER
Show one word
ARKANSANS is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS.
Show all four words
ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- BAMBOO: Its tall, hollow stalks are called culms.
- CELERY: The crunchy stalks are the part we eat.
- CORN: Grows on a tall central stalk with ears.
- WHEAT: Grain grows atop a thin, upright stalk.
- HORSERADISH: Sharp grated root served alongside raw oysters.
- LEMON: A squeeze of juice brightens oysters.
- MIGNONETTE: Classic vinegar and shallot sauce for oysters.
- TABASCO: A hot sauce dashed onto oysters.
- CHALLENGER: Dodge muscle coupe.
- CHARGER: Dodge performance sedan and coupe.
- DURANGO: Dodge three-row SUV.
- VIPER: Dodge V10 sports car.
Purple group explained
- ARKANSANS: ARK followed by ANS twice.
- CHIHUAHUA: CHI followed by HUA twice.
- POSSESSES: POS followed by SES twice.
- SPRINGING: SPR followed by ING twice.
What does MIGNONETTE mean?
A tangy sauce made from minced shallots, cracked pepper and vinegar, usually red wine or champagne vinegar, spooned onto raw oysters. In this puzzle it is one of the classic oyster accompaniments.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 27 | #1204 | ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES |
| Sep 26 | #1203 | "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS |
| Sep 25 | #1202 | TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTER |
| Sep 24 | #1201 | ANAGRAMS |
| Sep 23 | #1200 | ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "TERM" |
| Sep 22 | #1199 | BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED |
| Sep 21 | #1198 | STARTS OF COMPOSERS' NAMES |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Sep 28
Connections #1205 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 28, 2026?
THINGS WITH STALKS: BAMBOO, CELERY, CORN, WHEAT. OYSTER CONDIMENTS: HORSERADISH, LEMON, MIGNONETTE, TABASCO. DODGE MODELS: CHALLENGER, CHARGER, DURANGO, VIPER. THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING.
What was the purple group in Connections #1205?
THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS: ARKANSANS, CHIHUAHUA, POSSESSES, SPRINGING.
What made Connections #1205 tricky?
A spicy brunch cocktail can include a crunchy plant, citrus and hot sauce, which blurs the line between the plant group and the condiment group.