Yellow group
Most direct
First nudge
Head to the field or the vegetable drawer.
Stronger nudge
Each one grows up on a tall, straight stem.
Group name
Things with stalks
Connections hint #1205: September 28, 2026
Step-by-step hints and answers for Connections #1205, from Monday, September 28, 2026.
Monday's puzzle is tougher than usual for the start of the week. Several words have a second meaning that pulls them toward the wrong group, and the purple set ignores meaning altogether. If you are stuck, solve the three meaning-based groups first and let the leftovers show you the pattern.
- Chihuahua
- Lemon
- Viper
- Bamboo
- Celery
- Tabasco
- Arkansans
- Durango
- Springing
- Charger
- Horseradish
- Wheat
- Possesses
- Mignonette
- Corn
- Challenger
Hints for Connections #1205
Open one step at a time. Step three names the group, so stop earlier if you want more of a challenge. New to the color system? Here is what the four colors mean.
Green group
Fairly direct
First nudge
Think of a platter of shellfish on ice.
Stronger nudge
Things you might spoon, squeeze or shake onto something briny.
Group name
Oyster condiments
Blue group
Takes some thought
First nudge
Take a walk around an American car dealership.
Stronger nudge
All four are names from the same carmaker's lineup.
Group name
Dodge models
Purple group
Trickiest
First nudge
Stop thinking about meaning and look at the spelling instead.
Stronger nudge
After the first few letters, each word says the same short sound twice in a row.
Group name
Three letters plus repeated trigrams
Show the trap
A citrus fruit doubles as slang for a bad car, which makes it tempting to put with the vehicles. The car group is about one specific brand's model names, so the fruit goes back to the seafood platter.
More ways to dodge red herrings: our Connections tips.
Word meanings
Some meanings point toward a group, so they stay hidden until you open them.
Show meanings for 6 tricky words
- Mignonette
- A sharp sauce of minced shallots, vinegar and pepper, served with raw oysters.
- Arkansans
- People from the US state of Arkansas.
- Chihuahua
- A tiny dog breed, and the Mexican state it is named after.
- Viper
- A family of venomous snakes, and the name of a Dodge sports car.
- Lemon
- A citrus fruit, and slang for a car with lots of defects.
- Durango
- A city and state in northern Mexico, and the name of a large Dodge SUV.
Answers for Connections #1205
This section shows all four groups. Only open it if you're finished or ready to give up.
Show all four groups
-
Things with stalks
Bamboo, Celery, Corn, Wheat
All four plants are known for their stalks: a tall grass, a crunchy vegetable and two cereal crops.
-
Oyster condiments
Horseradish, Lemon, Mignonette, Tabasco
Classic partners for raw oysters: a hot root, a citrus squeeze, a shallot-and-vinegar sauce and a bottled hot sauce.
-
Dodge models
Challenger, Charger, Durango, Viper
The Challenger, Charger, Durango and Viper are all Dodge vehicles.
-
Three letters plus repeated trigrams
Arkansans, Chihuahua, Possesses, Springing
Each word is three letters followed by a three-letter chunk repeated: ARK-ANS-ANS, CHI-HUA-HUA, POS-SES-SES, SPR-ING-ING.
Want to get better at spotting groups? Start with what the four colors mean.
Answers checked in the official game by Alan. This puzzle appeared on Monday, September 28, 2026.
More Connections puzzles
Every puzzle keeps its own page with the same nudges, meanings and answers, so you can go back to any day.
Looking for a different day? Use the links below, or head to today's Connections hint. Every puzzle from September 2026 is listed on the September 2026 archive page.