The New York Times Connections puzzle for Monday, September 14, 2026, presents a difficult challenge for players, with words cleverly distributed across categories to test their deduction skills.
The puzzle's theme this Monday revolves around a mix of nature, communication, everyday items, and a variety of grasses.
Daily Hints
For those seeking a gentle nudge, specific hints are available for each color-coded group:
A yellow hint points to "the pond regulars," suggesting a group of aquatic birds. The green hint is "They're narks!" indicating a category related to informants or snitches. The blue hint advises that "Convenience comes at a cost," hinting at common single-use plastic items. The purple hint focuses on "Grass comes in many types," pointing to different kinds of grass.
Group Themes Revealed
Players needing more direct assistance can consider the revealed themes for each group:
The Yellow group's theme is Waterbirds. The Green group's theme is Informant. The Blue group's theme is Common Single-Use Plastic Items. The Purple group's theme is ___Grass.
Individual Word Clues
Further assistance is offered by revealing one word from each group. The Yellow group includes Goose, the Green group includes Rat, the Blue group includes Bag, and the Purple group includes Crab.
Full Solution
The complete set of answers for the September 14th Connections puzzle are as follows:
The Yellow group, Waterbirds, consists of Coot, Goose, Loon, and Teal. The Green group, Informant, comprises Canary, Rat, Snitch, and Stoolie. The Blue group, Common Single-Use Plastic Items, includes Bag, Cutlery, Stirrer, and Straw. The Purple group, ___Grass, contains Blue, Crab, Lemon, and Wheat.
This particular puzzle has been noted for its deceptive placement of words, with many animal-related terms appearing across different categories, making the Blue group, which lacks an animal, a potential anchor for players.