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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The referenced NYT Connections puzzle is #1200, dated Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The supplied headline says Tuesday, but September 23 falls on Wednesday in 2026. Use the spoiler-safe hints below before checking all four groups.
Date and puzzle number
This is Connections puzzle #1200. Although the headline uses “Tuesday,” the answer guide identifies the puzzle as Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
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Hints for today’s NYT Connections puzzle
Connections asks you to divide 16 words into four groups of four. These clues move from broad to specific without immediately giving away the entries.
Yellow-group hint
Think about the small set of objects many people check for before walking out the door.
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Green-group hint
These are obstacles or interruptions you may encounter while browsing a website.
Blue-group hint
Look for products commonly sold inside metal containers.
Purple-group hint
Each answer becomes a word associated with “term” when you look at its ending.
Spoiler warning: The complete categories and entries appear below.
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NYT Connections answers for September 23
| Category | Words | How the group works |
|---|---|---|
| Things you grab before leaving the house | KEYS, PHONE, SUNGLASSES, WALLET | Four everyday items from a typical leaving-home checklist. |
| Website hurdles | AGE VERIFICATION, CAPTCHA, COOKIE CONSENT, PAYWALL | Each can block, delay or restrict access to online content. |
| Things that come in cans | CONDENSED MILK, PAINT, SHAVING CREAM, SPAM | All are products commonly packaged in cans. |
| Ending in synonyms for “term” | BITCOIN, RECORD LABEL, RUB-A-DUB, SURINAME | BITCOIN ends in “coin,” RECORD LABEL in “label,” RUB-A-DUB in “dub,” and SURINAME in “name”—endings that can function as terms or names in the wordplay. |
How the Connections game works
You start with 16 terms and must find four sets of four. A connection may be literal, thematic or based on wordplay, and misleading surface associations are intentional. Once a group is solved, the game identifies its color-coded difficulty level; the colors indicate relative difficulty rather than a guarantee about how quickly every player will see the connection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Find hundreds of words in an easy to read format - Some words you'll spot easily, but you'll have to search hard for others.
- A wide range of puzzle topics, including movies, actors, sports, cars, and more!
- Variations on the standard word search puzzles are included for extra challenge.
- Answer key in the back of the book.
- Spiral bound, 192 pages.
A practical way to solve this grid
- Mark the obvious everyday checklist items, but verify that exactly four words fit.
- Separate online access barriers from physical products and from possible word endings.
- Test the can-related set as a packaging category, not as a shared ingredient.
- For the final four, read each entry’s ending aloud and check whether the resulting words support the stated category.
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