Issue #1181 Fri 4 Sep
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — September 4, 2026
A steady hand and a sharp eye serve you well today. This grid offers a clean, logical progression for those who enjoy sorting through distinct clusters.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A globe on a desk, a marble rolling across a hardwood floor, or the curve of a heavy fruit in your palm.
Physical geometry
Items sharing one feature
Members are 3–12 letters; first letters B, E, M, O.
SPHERICAL THINGS
One is BOWLING BALL.
BOWLING BALL · EYE · MOON · ORANGE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The receipt from a local diner lists a menu item that sounds like two separate orders combined.
Compound nomenclature
Items sharing one feature
Members are 9–13 letters; first letters C, P.
FOOD WHOSE NAME IS TWO FOODS
One is CAKE DONUT.
CAKE DONUT · CANDY CORN · CHERRY TOMATO · PIZZA PIE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A dark aquarium tank at the zoo where the placards list scientific names you have never seen before.
Marine biology
Examples of one named set
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters C, G, M, R.
KINDS OF EELS
One is CONGER.
CONGER · GULPER · MORAY · RIBBON
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A word puzzle where your focus shifts from the full term to the bookends and the hidden contents tucked between.
Wordplay group
Each ends with a hidden item
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters C, O, S, T.
ACCESSORIES INSIDE STARTING AND ENDING LETTERS
One is CRINGY.
CRINGY · OPINE · STIED · THAT'S
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
SPHERICAL THINGSBOWLING BALL · EYE · MOON · ORANGE
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Reveal the green group
FOOD WHOSE NAME IS TWO FOODSCAKE DONUT · CANDY CORN · CHERRY TOMATO · PIZZA PIE
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Reveal the blue group
KINDS OF EELSCONGER · GULPER · MORAY · RIBBON
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Reveal the violet group
ACCESSORIES INSIDE STARTING AND ENDING LETTERSCRINGY · OPINE · STIED · THAT'S
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on September 4, 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 4, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on September 4, 2026?
NYT Connections on September 4, 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 4, 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 #1181?
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