NYT Connections Answer Today (#1195) – 18 Sep 2026 Solution & Hints
- About Today’s Connections
- The 16 Words
- Definitions of the 16 Words
- General Hints
- Category Titles
- One Word per Category
- Complete Solution (Click to Reveal)
About Today’s Connections
Puzzle #1195 (published 18 Sep 2026). Sort 16 words into four groups of four, based on a hidden connection. Some words look like they belong together and don’t — that’s by design.
The 16 Words
Here are the 16 words, sorted alphabetically to avoid spoilers:
- BOARDING
- BRIEF
- CRUISE
- FLIGHT
- LANDING
- MEDLEY
- PHASE
- PILLOW
- PLATTER
- ROUND
- SAMPLER
- STAGE
- STAIR
- STEP
- TAKEOFF
- UPPER
Definitions of the 16 Words
| BOARDING | The process of getting on board a plane, ship, or train before departure. |
| BRIEF | A short document case, often used by lawyers to carry legal papers. |
| CRUISE | A leisurely voyage or journey, often taken by sea purely for pleasure. |
| FLIGHT | A trip through the air, or a curated set of small drink samples served together for tasting. |
| LANDING | The moment an aircraft touches down, or the flat platform at the top of a set of stairs. |
| MEDLEY | A mixture or assortment of different things blended or served together. |
| PHASE | A distinct period or stage within a longer process of change. |
| PILLOW | A soft cushion used to support the head, typically while sleeping. |
| PLATTER | A large flat serving dish, often piled with a variety of foods. |
| ROUND | One of a series of stages that make up a competition or process. |
| SAMPLER | A small selection of various items meant to give a taste of each one. |
| STAGE | A particular point or period reached in the course of a development. |
| STAIR | A single step within a flight of steps connecting two levels. |
| STEP | One of a sequence of actions taken in order to achieve a goal. |
| TAKEOFF | The instant an aircraft leaves the ground and becomes airborne. |
| UPPER | The part of a shoe or boot that sits above the sole. |
General Hints
- Yellow: Think about words for one part of something bigger that unfolds bit by bit over time.
- Green: These words all describe offering a little taste of several different things at once.
- Blue: Everything in this group happens somewhere between checking in and arriving at your destination by air.
- Purple: Tack the same short word onto the end of each of these, and you’ll get something you might carry, sleep on, climb, or lace up.
Category Titles
- 🟨 Yellow: Segments Of A Process
- 🟩 Green: Assortments Of Food/Drink
- 🟦 Blue: Parts Of A Flight
- 🟪 Purple: ___ Case
One Word per Category
- 🟨 Yellow: STEP
- 🟩 Green: SAMPLER
- 🟦 Blue: TAKEOFF
- 🟪 Purple: UPPER
Complete Solution
The full breakdown is below — tap to reveal all four groups:
[CLICK TO REVEAL: Full Solution]
NYT Connections #1195 — Full Groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Segments Of A Process → PHASE, ROUND, STAGE, STEP
- 🟩 Green: Assortments Of Food/Drink → FLIGHT, MEDLEY, PLATTER, SAMPLER
- 🟦 Blue: Parts Of A Flight → BOARDING, CRUISE, LANDING, TAKEOFF
- 🟪 Purple: ___ Case → BRIEF, PILLOW, STAIR, UPPER
The purple group is the classic Connections curveball — BRIEF, PILLOW, STAIR, and UPPER share no meaning at all; they just each happen to pair with the word “case,” which is exactly the kind of lateral thinking this puzzle loves to reward.
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