MorningHint
NYT Connections #1199 · Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Connections Hint Today — #1199, September 22

Clues for each of the four groups, from vague to specific. Open only what you need — every clue and every answer stays hidden until you tap it.

Today's Connections hints, group by group

Group 1 — the most straightforward

1What kind of themeTap to reveal

The theme is 1 word long and begins with the letter D.

2One of the four wordsTap to reveal

One word in this group is THAT.

3The themeTap to reveal

The theme is DEMONSTRATIVES.

Show group 1

THAT · THESE · THIS · THOSE

Theme: DEMONSTRATIVES.

Group 2 — a step harder

1What kind of themeTap to reveal

The theme is 1 word long and begins with the letter E.

2One of the four wordsTap to reveal

One word in this group is ACCENT.

3The themeTap to reveal

The theme is EMBELLISHMENT.

Show group 2

ACCENT · DETAIL · FLOURISH · TOUCH

Theme: EMBELLISHMENT.

Group 3 — tricky

1What kind of themeTap to reveal

The theme is 6 words long and begins with the letter O.

2One of the four wordsTap to reveal

One word in this group is AGREE.

3The themeTap to reveal

The theme is OPTIONS ON A MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEY.

Show group 3

AGREE · DISAGREE · NEUTRAL · OTHER

Theme: OPTIONS ON A MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEY.

Group 4 — the trickiest

1What kind of themeTap to reveal

The theme is 5 words long and begins with the letter B.

2One of the four wordsTap to reveal

One word in this group is CAFE.

3The themeTap to reveal

The theme is BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED.

Show group 4

CAFE · PATRON · ROSE · THE

Theme: BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED.

Show all four groups for Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Group 1: THAT · THESE · THIS · THOSE (DEMONSTRATIVES)

Group 2: ACCENT · DETAIL · FLOURISH · TOUCH (EMBELLISHMENT)

Group 3: AGREE · DISAGREE · NEUTRAL · OTHER (OPTIONS ON A MULTIPLE CHOICE SURVEY)

Group 4: CAFE · PATRON · ROSE · THE (BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED)

How Connections works

Each day's board holds sixteen words, and they split into four hidden sets of four. You select four words you believe belong together and submit them. A correct set is locked in and its theme is revealed; a wrong one costs you a mistake, and four mistakes end the game. The sets are ranked by difficulty, from one most people see quickly to one built on wordplay that is easy to miss. The groups on this page follow that same order, so if you want a gentle start, begin with group one.

Five habits that make it easier

Look for the decoys first. Most boards contain at least one word that seems to fit two themes. Before you submit anything, find the word that could go either way and decide where it really belongs.

Solve the hardest set by elimination. The trickiest theme is usually some kind of wordplay, such as hidden words, homophones or letters added and removed. It is often easier to finish the three plainer groups and let the leftovers show you the fourth.

Read each word three ways. Ask whether it is a noun, a verb or part of a longer phrase. Many themes depend on a less common meaning.

Say the words out loud. Sound-alike themes are far easier to catch when you hear them.

Take the "one away" message seriously. When the game says you are one away, three of your four picks are right. Swap out the word you were least sure of rather than starting over.

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