NYT Connections Answer

Welcome to your daily guide for the NYT Connections puzzle! If you’ve been scratching your head over today’s grid, you aren't alone. Editor Wyna Liu has served up a delightful mix of tech, hobbies, and classical music history for the September 21, 2026 challenge.

Whether you are looking for a small nudge or the full answer for 2026-09-21, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break down the connections together.

Quick Hints for Today’s Categories

Before we reveal the full answers, here are some nudges to help you solve it on your own:

• Yellow Group Hint: Think about what you see when you open your inbox on a computer.
• Green Group Hint: You’d find these items in a tackle box or on a boat.
• Blue Group Hint: Every word here is an action or a state in a classic board game.
• Purple Group Hint: Try saying these words out loud—they sound like the beginning of some very famous last names.

Connections Group Results and Explanations

Now, let’s look at the specific groups for today's puzzle.

Yellow: EMAIL BUTTONS

These are standard interface elements you find in almost every email client, from Gmail to Outlook.

• Words: COMPOSE, DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM
• Why they fit: These are the primary folders or actions used when managing your digital correspondence.

Green: WAYS TO ATTRACT FISH

If you’re an angler, this category likely jumped out at you immediately. These are all methods used to get a fish on the hook.

• Words: CHUM, FLY, SPINNER, WORM
• Why they fit: CHUM is ground-up bait thrown overboard, a FLY is used in fly fishing, a SPINNER is a type of rotating lure, and the WORM is the classic choice for a hook.

Blue: CHESS VERBS

This group focuses on the mechanics and rules of the "Game of Kings."

• Words: CAPTURE, CASTLE, CHECK, MATE
• Why they fit: These are all actions or positions in Chess. You CAPTURE a piece, you CASTLE your king for safety, and CHECK and MATE are the stages of ending the game.

Purple: STARTS OF COMPOSERS' NAMES

This is the classic "think outside the box" category. Each word is the first syllable of a legendary classical composer.

• Words: BEET, BRAH, CHOP, VIVA
• Why they fit: If you add the rest of their names, you get BEEThoven, BRAHms, CHOPin, and VIVAldi.

How to Solve Today's Puzzle

Today's grid had a few "red herrings." You might have seen CHOP and thought of food, perhaps trying to link it with BEET. However, once you noticed COMPOSE and SENT, the email category likely clicked into place.

The real challenge was the Chess category versus the Fish category. Both FLY and SPINNER could almost feel like technical terms, but they fit much better with the bait items. Once you narrowed down the Chess verbs, the remaining four "short" words (BEET, BRAH, CHOP, VIVA) revealed the musical theme.

If you need a NYT Connections hint tomorrow, remember to look for words that can take a prefix or suffix—that’s a favorite trick for the Purple group!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is NYT Connections?

Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times where players must group 16 words into four categories of four. Each category has a different difficulty level: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).

How do I play NYT Connections?

To play, select four words that you believe share a common thread. If you are correct, the category will be revealed. You have four lives; four incorrect guesses and the game ends.

When does the NYT Connections reset?

The puzzle resets daily at midnight in your local time zone.

Who is the editor of NYT Connections?

The game is currently edited by Wyna Liu, who is known for her clever wordplay and challenging "Purple" categories.

Check back tomorrow for more hints and the latest solutions! Happy puzzling!