Issue #1180 Thu 3 Sep
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — September 3, 2026
This grid offers a steady progression from the familiar to the slightly more technical. Keep an eye on the overlap between common objects and specialized software tools.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A race against the kitchen timer or the gap between lightning and the resulting boom.
Temporal measurements
Synonyms
Members are 5–9 letters; first letters B, F, H, T.
TWO SHAKES OF A LAMB'S TAIL
One is BLINK.
BLINK · FLASH · HEARTBEAT · TRICE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
Checking the paint chip display at the hardware store to find that one specific autumn tone.
Pigment names
Examples of one named set
Members are 6–10 letters; first letters C, M, V.
SHADES OF RED
One is CARMINE.
CARMINE · CINNABAR · MAROON · VERMILLION
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
Cleaning out the plastic bin under the bed to find a stray tire or a miniature metal chassis.
Die-cast manufacturers
Examples of one named set
Members are 5–14 letters; first letters H, M, T.
TOY CAR BRANDS
One is HOT WHEELS.
HOT WHEELS · MATCHBOX · MICRO MACHINES · TONKA
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
Selecting a cell and hovering over the command bar to calculate the month's total.
Data software commands
Examples of one named set
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters A, C, M, S.
SPREADSHEET FUNCTIONS
One is AVERAGE.
AVERAGE · COUNT · MAX · SUM
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
TWO SHAKES OF A LAMB'S TAILBLINK · FLASH · HEARTBEAT · TRICE
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Reveal the green group
SHADES OF REDCARMINE · CINNABAR · MAROON · VERMILLION
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Reveal the blue group
TOY CAR BRANDSHOT WHEELS · MATCHBOX · MICRO MACHINES · TONKA
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Reveal the violet group
SPREADSHEET FUNCTIONSAVERAGE · COUNT · MAX · SUM
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on September 3, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for September 3, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on September 3, 2026?
NYT Connections on September 3, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on September 3, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1180?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words