Issue #1185 Tue 8 Sep
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — September 8, 2026
Today's grid requires a bit of momentum to get moving. Keep an eye out for how these terms interact with their neighbors.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The roar of an engine in a parking garage and the smell of burnt rubber on an empty strip of asphalt.
Automotive history
Examples of one named set
Members are 5–8 letters; first letters C, F, M, V.
CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS
One is CORVETTE.
CORVETTE · FIREBIRD · MUSTANG · VIPER
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A painted face under a streetlamp and a silent performance in a busy park.
Costume components
Items sharing one feature
Members are 5–10 letters; first letters B, G, S.
FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME
One is BERET.
BERET · GLOVES · STRIPES · SUSPENDERS
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The rhythm of a pulse check or the center of a dense vegetable.
Wordplay group
Each fills the same blank
Members are 6–9 letters; first letters A, P, S, T.
___ HEART
One is ARTICHOKE.
ARTICHOKE · PURPLE · SACRED · TAKE TO
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A quick trip to the convenience store counter and the crinkle of foil wrappers.
Wordplay group
Letter-substitution wordplay
Members are 5 letters each; first letters D, M, S, T.
CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER
One is DOVES.
DOVES · MARSH · SKORT · TWIXT
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
CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARSCORVETTE · FIREBIRD · MUSTANG · VIPER
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Reveal the green group
FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUMEBERET · GLOVES · STRIPES · SUSPENDERS
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Reveal the blue group
___ HEARTARTICHOKE · PURPLE · SACRED · TAKE TO
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Reveal the violet group
CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTERDOVES · MARSH · SKORT · TWIXT
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on September 8, 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 8, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on September 8, 2026?
NYT Connections on September 8, 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 8, 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 #1185?
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