Connections Hints

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — September 15, 2026

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

ASSET
CABOOSE
COACH
DECEMBER
DESSERT
DIRECT
EPILOGUE
GUIDE
HANDLE
LID
MOLE
PLANT
SLEEPER
SPOUT
TRAIN
WHISTLE
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

INSTRUCTStraightforward
PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLEModerate
UNDERCOVER OPERATIVETricky
THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE ENDDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

INSTRUCTStraightforward
WORDS MEANING TO TEACH OR SHOW SOMEONE THE ROPES+ 3 more…
PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLEModerate
COMPONENTS YOU'D FIND ON A STOVETOP TEA MAKER+ 3 more…
UNDERCOVER OPERATIVETricky
SPY TERMS FOR SOMEONE WORKING IN SECRET+ 3 more…
THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE ENDDevious
THINGS THAT COME LAST — AT THE TAIL END OF SOMETHING+ 3 more…
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Full solution
INSTRUCTStraightforward
COACH,DIRECT,GUIDE,TRAIN

COACH, DIRECT, GUIDE, and TRAIN all mean to instruct or teach someone, often in a hands-on or leadership capacity.

PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLEModerate
HANDLE,LID,SPOUT,WHISTLE

HANDLE, LID, SPOUT, and WHISTLE are all physical parts that make up a traditional whistling kettle.

UNDERCOVER OPERATIVETricky
ASSET,MOLE,PLANT,SLEEPER

ASSET, MOLE, PLANT, and SLEEPER are all terms used in espionage to describe undercover operatives or secret agents.

THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE ENDDevious
CABOOSE,DECEMBER,DESSERT,EPILOGUE

CABOOSE (last train car), DECEMBER (last month), DESSERT (last course of a meal), and EPILOGUE (last section of a book) all appear at the very end of something.

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