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◆ The New York Times

Connections Hints, Answers & Strategy Guide

Sort 16 words into 4 thematic groups.

Connections is the New York Times' daily grouping puzzle: sixteen words to sort into four hidden groups of four, with only four mistakes allowed. The challenge is the overlap — words that look like they belong together often don't, and the purple group is usually the trap. A new grid drops daily. TECHi keeps spoiler-safe hints and today's groups, yesterday's answers, and an evergreen strategy guide.

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Jump straight to today's (September 20, 2026) hintsCheck yesterday

◆ Three pages, one game

Pick your moment.

Open today’s hints when you are solving now, jump to yesterday if you missed a day, or use the guide when you want rules and strategy.

Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.

Recent Connections answers
DatePuzzleAnswer
Sat, Sep 19, 2026Connections #1196WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE: BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND, GROW. FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING: HOUSE, STICK FIGURE, SUN, TREE. ASSOCIATED WITH SWINGING LONDON IN THE 1960S: CARNABY STREET, MINISKIRT, MOD, TWIGGY. STARTING WITH ABBREVIATED MATH FUNCTIONS: COS LETTUCE, LOG CABIN, SIN CITY, TAN LINE.
Fri, Sep 18, 2026Connections #1195SEGMENT OF A PROCESS: PHASE, ROUND, STAGE, STEP. ASSORTMENTS OF FOOD/DRINK: FLIGHT, MEDLEY, PLATTER, SAMPLER. PARTS OF A FLIGHT: BOARDING, CRUISE, LANDING, TAKEOFF. ___CASE: BRIEF, PILLOW, STAIR, UPPER.
Thu, Sep 17, 2026Connections #1194ELASTICITY: BOUNCE, FLEXIBILITY, GIVE, SPRING. THINGS THAT ARE UNDERGROUND: MINE SHAFT, SEWER LINE, SUBWAY STATION, WELL. HUGH JACKMAN MOVIES, WITH "THE": FOUNTAIN, PRESTIGE, SHEEP DETECTIVES, WOLVERINE. LOVE ___: HANDLES, LANGUAGE, TAP, TRIANGLE.
Wed, Sep 16, 2026Connections #1193ENDING IN METAL ELEMENTS: LATIN, LONG JOHN SILVER, MARIGOLD, STEAM IRON. STARTING WITH U.S. COINS: DIMENSION, NICKELODEON, PENNYWISE, QUARTERBACK. POETS' MIDDLE NAMES: BARRETT, CARLOS, ST. VINCENT, WADSWORTH. SAUSAGES PLUS A LETTER: BORAT, CLINK, FRANK-N-FURTER, WIDENER.
Tue, Sep 15, 2026Connections #1192INSTRUCT: COACH, DIRECT, GUIDE, TRAIN. PARTS OF A WHISTLING KETTLE: HANDLE, LID, SPOUT, WHISTLE. UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE: ASSET, MOLE, PLANT, SLEEPER. THINGS THAT APPEAR AT THE END: CABOOSE, DECEMBER, DESSERT, EPILOGUE.
Mon, Sep 14, 2026Connections #1191WATERBIRDS: COOT, GOOSE, LOON, TEAL. INFORMANT: CANARY, RAT, SNITCH, STOOLIE. COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS: BAG, CUTLERY, STIRRER, STRAW. ___GRASS: BLUE, CRAB, LEMON, WHEAT.
Sun, Sep 13, 2026Connections #1190LACKING IN FIRMNESS: DROOPY, FLACCID, SAGGING, SLACK. U.S. PRESIDENTS: CLEVELAND, GARFIELD, GRANT, MADISON. WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS: EMPTY, EXCESS, KEWPIE, ODIE. ENDING IN ELEVATED LANDFORMS: DOUBLESPEAK, HEATHCLIFF, PARAMOUNT, PORRIDGE.
Sat, Sep 12, 2026Connections #1189WAYS TO PERSONALIZE A CAR: BUMPER STICKER, FUZZY DICE, HOOD ORNAMENT, VANITY PLATE. PEOPLE IN AN ONLINE FORUM: LURKER, POSTER, SPAMMER, TROLL. THINGS THAT BLINK: CURSOR, EYELIDS, SMOKE DETECTOR, TURN SIGNAL. ___ ALERT: NERD, RED, SPOILER, WEATHER.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026Connections #1188PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT: BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER, PLANNER. INTERNALIZE: ABSORB, DIGEST, PROCESS, TAKE IN. WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE: EXERCISE, JOURNAL, MEDITATE, UNPLUG. THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY: AGENDA, ENVELOPE, LIMITS, LUCK.
Thu, Sep 10, 2026Connections #1187CHEMICAL ELEMENTS: ACTINIUM, KRYPTON, LEAD, SULFUR. WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW: AIR CONDITIONER, CATIO, CLOTHESLINE, FLOWER BOX. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS: ATLANTIC CITY, BADLANDS, BORN TO RUN, THUNDER ROAD. ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW": ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATING CURRENT, REPRESENT, SEXTANT.
Wed, Sep 9, 2026Connections #1186HARD TO UNDERSTAND: BEWILDERING, ESOTERIC, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, OPAQUE. WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXES: MICROBREWERY, MINIVAN, NANOTECHNOLOGY, PICOSECOND. HORROR MOVIES: ARACHNOPHOBIA, HALLOWEEN, IT, SAW. WORDS BEFORE "FORCE": BRUTE, ELECTROMAGNETIC, G, TASK.
Tue, Sep 8, 2026Connections #1185CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS: CORVETTE, FIREBIRD, MUSTANG, VIPER. FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME: BERET, GLOVES, STRIPES, SUSPENDERS. ___ HEART: ARTICHOKE, PURPLE, SACRED, TAKE TO. CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER: DOVES, MARSH, SKORT, TWIXT.
Mon, Sep 7, 2026Connections #1184QUITE THE SAGA: FABRICATION, FISH STORY, TALL TALE, YARN. PARTS OF A BRA: CUP, HOOK, STRAP, UNDERWIRE. ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES: CAR AIR FRESHENER, CHRISTMAS, NEEDLES, TURPENTINE. STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS: PLUTONIUM, SCAR TISSUE, STITCH MARKER, TRAMPOLINE.
Sun, Sep 6, 2026Connections #1183UNRESTRICTED PERMISSION; PLACES TO INSERT SOMETHING INTO ON A COMPUTER; ABBREVIATIONS FOLLOWED BY REDUNDANT WORD; ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE.

◆ Strategy

How to Win at Connections

Connections is less about one right word and more about avoiding tempting near-misses. Build groups slowly, then test the category before locking it.

Find obvious pairs first

Two words that clearly belong together can reveal a category without forcing an early mistake.

Watch for decoys

If five words seem related, one is probably bait. Name the category before you submit four cards.

Save guesses for the end

Do not spend guesses testing hunches. Use the board to eliminate categories until one group is almost forced.

◆ FAQ

Connections questions, answered

How many groups are in Connections?
Connections asks you to sort sixteen words into four groups of four, with each group sharing a hidden theme.
Why use hints before the Connections answer?
Hints can point to a category without spoiling every card, which is safer than jumping straight to the full solution.

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