NYT Connections Hint & AnswersPuzzle #1206 · September 29, 2026
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Get a single-word clue, a category hint, or the full answer for Puzzle #1206 — you choose exactly how much help you need.
Written by Hint Team · Updated September 29, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Puzzle #1206 (September 29, 2026) is rated Medium difficulty.
- 16 words sort into 4 hidden categories — Yellow (easiest) to Purple (hardest).
- Every word and every category has its own spoiler-free hint below.
- Full answers are revealed only when you tap to see them — nothing spoils automatically.
Today's Tip
Looking for the Connections Hint September 29? Today's NYT Connections puzzle has four different types of word relationships. One group describes things that are out of the way, another focuses on parts of a river, and a third uses the opening words from well-known Pixar movie titles. The hardest group hides Greek letters inside ordinary phrases.
Hint For Each Word
Tap any tile to see what it means in today's puzzle — no spoilers.
Hints For All Four Categories
Ordered from easiest to hardest — reveal only as much as you need.
Traps & Misdirects
Words placed on purpose to mislead you — spot these before you burn a guess.
DELTA, MODEL TANK
DELTA is genuinely a river feature, so it naturally belongs with the Green group. But Delta is also a Greek letter, and MODEL TANK hides DELTA inside the phrase. That creates one of today's strongest double connections.
HIDDEN, SECRET, FREEZE TAG
HIDDEN and SECRET both suggest something concealed. That can make the Purple category feel related to them because the Greek letters are literally hidden inside phrases. In reality, HIDDEN and SECRET belong to the Yellow group.
MOUTH, ORAL PHASE
MOUTH has an obvious connection with the body and speech, while ORAL PHASE is also related to the mouth. That surface connection can pull them together. MOUTH instead belongs to the river category, while ORAL PHASE hides the Greek letter ALPHA.
FINDING, INSIDE, TOY, MONSTERS
These four words do not immediately look like a single category because each can be used in everyday English. Their connection becomes clear when you think about Pixar titles: Finding, Inside, Monsters, and Toy each open a famous film title.These four words do not immediately look like a single category because each can be used in everyday English. Their connection becomes clear when you think about Pixar titles: Finding, Inside, Monsters, and Toy each open a famous film title.
FREEZE TAG, HOME GAME, MODEL TANK, ORAL PHASE
The Purple group is harder because the Greek letters are not presented as separate words. They cross the boundaries inside the phrases: ZETA, OMEGA, DELTA, and ALPHA.
HIDDEN, REMOTE, SECRET, TUCKED AWAY
These four have straightforward meanings but can feel too broad at first. The key is recognizing that all four describe something private, concealed, distant, or out of the way.
Today's Full Answers
All four groups, revealed only when you're ready.
Answers are hidden by default so you can solve at your own pace. Tap below when you're ready to see everything.
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Our Connections hints help you crack all 16 words into their four correct groups — without spoiling the fun. Start with gentle, spoiler-free clues, and only unlock more as you need them. We'll walk you step by step, from subtle hints to full category reveals and today's complete answers.
How to Use Our NYT Connections Hints
Every player gets stuck at a different point in the puzzle — knowing exactly where you're stuck is the fastest way to find the right hint. Match your situation below, use that hint, and get back to solving.
You Don't Recognize a Word's Meaning
Puzzle editor Wyna Liu often picks words with a specific or unusual meaning, especially in the green, blue, and purple groups. If you don't know what a word means in context, you can't confidently place it.
Use the Word Hint. It explains what that word means for today's puzzle. Just tap any word on the board to open its hint card.
None of the 16 Words Are Clicking Into Groups
Connections categories are built around a theme, not just word meaning — so the link between words isn't always obvious at first glance.
Use the Category Hint. It points you toward the theme of a group without naming the category or listing its words. Start with the Yellow Category Hint — yellow is always the easiest.
You Think You Have a Group, But You're Not Sure
A wrong guess costs you one of your four allowed mistakes, so it pays to confirm before you commit.
Use the Category Name. It reveals the exact name of a group without showing which words belong to it. If your guess matches, go for it; if not, you've dodged a mistake. Tap the color you're testing to see it.
A Word Seems to Fit More Than One Group
Wyna Liu deliberately plants misleading words that look like they belong in more than one category — these trip up more players than anything else in the puzzle.
Use the Traps and Misdirects Hint. It flags the tricky words in today's puzzle and explains why they don't belong where you'd expect.
You Know the Category, Just Not All the Words
You've spotted the theme but can't pin down every word that fits it.
Use the Word Reveal. It uncovers one word at a time, so you only see as much as you need — open your identified category and reveal words one by one until the group is complete.
New to Connections, or want to get better?
The full rules, what each difficulty color means, and strategies for spotting traps live in one place — our complete how-to-play guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Today's Connections hints give you a small clue about each group without revealing the full answers right away. You can use them when you're stuck but still want to solve the puzzle yourself.
Still have a question, or spotted a mistake in today's puzzle? Get in touch.
