Connections Hints
Friday, September 25, 2026
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — September 25, 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.
AYKROYD
BORDER
BOUGIE
CLASSY
ESCAPEMENT
FANCY
FOAMILY
GENIUS
LEVY
PENDULUM
POSH
RATCHET
RATHER
SAVAGE
SPRING
SWANK
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
LUXEStraightforward
PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCKModerate
FAMOUS DANSTricky
TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTERDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
LUXEStraightforward
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SOMETHING UPSCALE OR HIGH-END+ 3 more…
PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCKModerate
COMPONENTS YOU'D FIND TICKING INSIDE A GRANDFATHER CLOCK+ 3 more…
FAMOUS DANSTricky
LAST NAMES OF FAMOUS PEOPLE NAMED DAN+ 3 more…
TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTERDevious
TAXONOMIC CLASSIFICATION LEVELS HIDDEN INSIDE THESE WORDS WITH AN EXTRA LETTER ADDED+ 3 more…
Full solution
LUXEStraightforward
BOUGIE,FANCY,POSH,SWANK
BOUGIE, FANCY, POSH, and SWANK all mean luxurious, elegant, or high-class.
PARTS OF A MECHANICAL CLOCKModerate
ESCAPEMENT,PENDULUM,RATCHET,SPRING
ESCAPEMENT, PENDULUM, RATCHET, and SPRING are all mechanical parts found inside a traditional clock.
FAMOUS DANSTricky
AYKROYD,LEVY,RATHER,SAVAGE
AYKROYD (Dan Aykroyd), LEVY (Dan Levy), RATHER (Dan Rather), and SAVAGE (Dan Savage) are all famous Dans.
TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTERDevious
BORDER,CLASSY,FOAMILY,GENIUS
Each word contains a taxonomic rank plus one extra letter: BORDER (ORDER+B), CLASSY (CLASS+Y), FOAMILY (FAMILY+O), GENIUS (GENUS+I).