NYT Connections Answer Today (#1203) – 26 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 #1203 (published September 26, 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:
- BEANS
- BURL
- CAT
- CUCUMBER
- CUSTOMER
- FOLD
- GRAIN
- GUM
- KNOTS
- MINT
- MOUTHWASH
- PRESS
- RINGS
- SPRAY
- STARCH
- WASH
Definitions of the 16 Words
| BEANS | Small edible seeds often used in stews, chilis, and salads. |
| BURL | A rounded, knotty growth on a tree trunk that woodworkers prize for its swirling pattern. |
| CAT | A small domesticated feline commonly kept as a household pet. |
| CUCUMBER | A long green vegetable with a high water content, often sliced into salads. |
| CUSTOMER | A person who buys goods or services from a business. |
| FOLD | To bend fabric over on itself so it lies flat and compact. |
| GRAIN | The natural pattern of lines and texture visible in a piece of wood. |
| GUM | A chewy confection that’s meant to be chewed rather than swallowed. |
| KNOTS | Hard, circular imperfections in lumber marking where a branch once grew. |
| MINT | An aromatic herb, or a candy flavored with its cool, refreshing taste. |
| MOUTHWASH | A liquid rinse used to freshen breath and clean the inside of the mouth. |
| PRESS | To smooth wrinkles out of fabric using heat and pressure, typically with an iron. |
| RINGS | Circular bands visible in a cross-section of a tree trunk, one forming per year of growth. |
| SPRAY | A fine mist dispensed from an aerosol can or pump bottle. |
| STARCH | A stiffening agent applied to fabric before ironing to keep it crisp. |
| WASH | To clean something using water, and often soap or detergent. |
General Hints
- Reach for one of these after a garlicky lunch to make your breath more pleasant.
- A careful launderer or dry cleaner performs these steps on a button-down shirt.
- Carpenters and furniture makers look for these natural markings when picking a good piece of lumber.
- Each of these follows the word “cool” in a common phrase describing someone calm and unbothered.
Category Titles
- 🟨 Yellow: Breath Fresheners
- 🟩 Green: Things Done to a Dress Shirt at the Laundry
- 🟦 Blue: Features of Wood
- 🟪 Purple: “Cool” Things, in Expressions
One Word per Category
- 🟨 Yellow: MINT
- 🟩 Green: STARCH
- 🟦 Blue: GRAIN
- 🟪 Purple: CUCUMBER
Complete Solution
The full breakdown is below — tap to reveal all four groups:
[CLICK TO REVEAL: Full Solution]
NYT Connections #1203 — Full Groups
- 🟨 Yellow: Breath Fresheners → GUM, MINT, MOUTHWASH, SPRAY
- 🟩 Green: Things Done to a Dress Shirt at the Laundry → FOLD, PRESS, STARCH, WASH
- 🟦 Blue: Features of Wood → BURL, GRAIN, KNOTS, RINGS
- 🟪 Purple: “Cool” Things, in Expressions → BEANS, CAT, CUCUMBER, CUSTOMER
The purple group is the sneaky one today — BEANS, CAT, and CUCUMBER all sound like they could anchor a food or animal category, so it takes a beat to notice they’re really finishing the phrase “cool ___.”
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