Can’t solve NYT Connections today? Here's the full hints, answers and smart strategies for September 25, 2026, with categories explained

Today’s NYT Connections: The game gives you 16 words and asks you to split them into four groups of four. The catch is that some words can seem like they belong in more than one group, and this is where things get tricky. Here are the hints and answers for the September 25, 2026, NYT Connections puzzle, as per a report by PC Guide and USA Today.

Hints for today’s NYT Connections groups

Here are today’s four category hints, starting with the easiest one and ending with the purple group.

Yellow group hint: Think expensive, stylish and a little fancy.


Green group hint: These are parts you might find inside a mechanical clock.

Blue group hint: Four well-known people who share the first name Dan.

Purple group hint: Remember those taxonomic ranks from science class? Add one letter to each.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Here are all four groups from today’s puzzle.

Yellow group: Luxe

BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, SWANK

Green group: Parts of a mechanical clock

ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, SPRING

Blue group: Famous Dans

AYKROYD, LEVY, RATHER, SAVAGE

Purple group: Taxonomic ranks plus a letter

BORDER, CLASSY, FOAMILY, GENIUS

What are today’s NYT Connections answers?

Today’s puzzle has a pretty straightforward yellow group, while the purple category is likely to be the one that throws players off. The yellow answers all point to luxury or an expensive style. The green group covers parts of a mechanical clock, and the blue group brings together four famous Dans.

In the purple group, each word is based on a taxonomic rank, but with an extra letter added to it.

Does Connections get harder every day?

Not really. There isn’t a set rule that makes the puzzle harder from one day to the next. Some puzzles just feel tougher depending on the categories and how familiar you are with them.