NYT Connections Answer Today (#1198) – 21 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 #1198 (published September 21, 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:
- BEET
- BRAH
- CAPTURE
- CASTLE
- CHECK
- CHOP
- CHUM
- COMPOSE
- DRAFTS
- FLY
- MATE
- SENT
- SPAM
- SPINNER
- VIVA
- WORM
Definitions of the 16 Words
| BEET | A round, dark-red root vegetable often roasted, boiled, or pickled for its earthy sweetness. |
| BRAH | Casual slang for a close male friend, most associated with surf and beach culture. |
| CAPTURE | To remove an opposing piece from play by landing your own piece on its square. |
| CASTLE | A large fortified building that historically housed royalty or nobility. |
| CHECK | A pattern of small squares, or a mark used to show that something has been reviewed. |
| CHOP | A quick, forceful cutting or striking motion, often made with a blade or the edge of a hand. |
| CHUM | A close, easygoing friend, or ground-up bait scattered in water to lure fish. |
| COMPOSE | To create something by putting parts together, such as a song, a letter, or your thoughts. |
| DRAFTS | Early, unfinished versions of a piece of writing that haven’t been sent or published yet. |
| FLY | A small winged insect, or an artificial lure tied to imitate one for anglers. |
| MATE | A spouse, partner, or close friend, especially in British and Australian English. |
| SENT | The past tense of “send,” meaning delivered or dispatched somewhere. |
| SPAM | Unwanted junk messages sent out in bulk, or a well-known canned meat product. |
| SPINNER | A piece of fishing tackle with a rotating blade designed to flash and vibrate underwater. |
| VIVA | An enthusiastic exclamation of celebration or support, often shouted at festivals or rallies. |
| WORM | A long, soft-bodied, legless invertebrate that burrows through soil. |
General Hints
- Yellow: Think about what you might click on while managing your inbox.
- Green: These are things an angler might use to get a bite.
- Blue: These are moves or calls you might announce during a tense board game.
- Purple: Say these out loud and you may hear the opening sound of a famous classical musician’s surname.
Category Titles
- 🟨 Yellow: Email Buttons
- 🟩 Green: Ways to Attract Fish
- 🟦 Blue: Chess Verbs
- 🟪 Purple: Starts of Composers’ Names
One Word per Category
- 🟨 Yellow: SPAM
- 🟩 Green: WORM
- 🟦 Blue: CHECK
- 🟪 Purple: CHOP
Complete Solution
The full breakdown is below — tap to reveal all four groups:
[CLICK TO REVEAL: Full Solution]
NYT Connections #1198 — Full Groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Email Buttons → COMPOSE, DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM
- 🟩 Green: Ways to Attract Fish → CHUM, FLY, SPINNER, WORM
- 🟦 Blue: Chess Verbs → CAPTURE, CASTLE, CHECK, MATE
- 🟪 Purple: Starts of Composers’ Names → BEET, BRAH, CHOP, VIVA
The purple group was the real trap here, since BEET, BRAH, CHOP, and VIVA all read like ordinary words on their own, and only clicked into place once you said them aloud and heard the composers hiding inside.
Want more? Check out our latest posts:
Play the official NYT games on the NYT site.
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments
Oldest
