Connections Hints for September 21, 2026: Clues and Answers

Today's Connections has four hidden groups of four. Start with a gentle nudge and only open more if you need it.

COMPOSECHECKFLYBEETBRAHWORMSPAMMATECASTLECHUMVIVASENTCHOPCAPTUREDRAFTSSPINNER

Hint 1: One word from each group

Each of these words belongs to a different group.

Hint 2: Yellow (easiest) group theme

The yellow group is Email Buttons.

Hint 3: Green group theme

The green group is Ways To Attract Fish.

Hint 4: Blue group theme

The blue group is Chess Verbs.

Hint 5: Purple (hardest) group theme

The purple group is Starts Of Composers' Names.

Show all four answers

Email Buttons

COMPOSE, DRAFTS, SENT, SPAM

Ways To Attract Fish

CHUM, FLY, SPINNER, WORM

Chess Verbs

CAPTURE, CASTLE, CHECK, MATE

Starts Of Composers' Names

BEET, BRAH, CHOP, VIVA

About this puzzle

More about today's puzzle. Everything in this section can include the answer.

Why each word belongs in its group, with a short dictionary meaning where one exists.

Yellow (easiest): Email Buttons

COMPOSE: (transitive or intransitive) To construct by mental labor; to think up; particularly, to produce or create a literary...
DRAFTS: Archaic form of draughts (“the board game”). [(board games, UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, uncountable) A board game for ...
SENT: A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of an Estonian kroon.
SPAM: (uncountable, rarely countable, computing, Internet) Unsolicited bulk electronic messages.

Green: Ways To Attract Fish

CHUM: (dated) A friend; a pal.
FLY: (zoology) Any insect of the order Diptera; characterized by having two wings (except for some wingless species), also...
SPINNER: A device that is spun in games to choose a number or symbol.
WORM: A generally tubular invertebrate of the annelid phylum; an earthworm.

Blue: Chess Verbs

CAPTURE: (transitive) To take control of; to seize by force or stratagem.
CASTLE: A large residential building or compound that is fortified and contains many defences; in previous ages often inhabit...
CHECK: An inspection or examination.
MATE: A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.

Purple (hardest): Starts Of Composers' Names

BEET: (US, Canada) A beetroot; a swollen root of such a plant used as a culinary vegetable.
BRAH: Alternative spelling of bra (“brother, friend”). [An item of clothing, usually underwear worn to support the breasts.]
CHOP: A cut of meat, often containing a section of a rib.
VIVA: An oral examination, typically for an academic qualification.