Issue #1189 Sat 12 Sep
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — September 12, 2026 Today
A steady, rhythmic pace defines this grid. Take your time with the connections that seem obvious at first glance.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A neon license plate frame, a bobblehead dancing on the dash, and the specific pride of a window decal.
Automotive modifications
Examples of one named set
Members are 10–14 letters; first letters B, F, H, V.
WAYS TO PERSONALIZE A CAR
One is BUMPER STICKER.
BUMPER STICKER · FUZZY DICE · HOOD ORNAMENT · VANITY PLATE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The silent reader, the person who only posts links, and the inevitable argument in the comments section.
Internet community roles
Examples of one named set
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters L, P, S, T.
PEOPLE IN AN ONLINE FORUM
One is LURKER.
LURKER · POSTER · SPAMMER · TROLL
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The rhythmic pulse of a dashboard light, a cursor waiting for input, and the repetitive flash of a household sensor.
Visual oscillating phenomena
Items sharing one feature
Members are 6–14 letters; first letters C, E, S, T.
THINGS THAT BLINK
One is CURSOR.
CURSOR · EYELIDS · SMOKE DETECTOR · TURN SIGNAL
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The notification that hits your phone before the evening commute or right as the credits roll.
Common notification types
Each fills the same blank
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters N, R, S, W.
___ ALERT
One is NERD.
NERD · RED · SPOILER · WEATHER
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
WAYS TO PERSONALIZE A CARBUMPER STICKER · FUZZY DICE · HOOD ORNAMENT · VANITY PLATE
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Reveal the green group
PEOPLE IN AN ONLINE FORUMLURKER · POSTER · SPAMMER · TROLL
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Reveal the blue group
THINGS THAT BLINKCURSOR · EYELIDS · SMOKE DETECTOR · TURN SIGNAL
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Reveal the violet group
___ ALERTNERD · RED · SPOILER · WEATHER
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for today's Connections. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for September 12, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is today's NYT Connections?
Today's NYT Connections 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 today?
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 #1189?
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
- Connections hints — Sep 12 (this page)
- Strands hints — Sep 12
- Wordle hints — Sep 12
- Framed hints — Sep 12
- Globle hints — Sep 12
- Spelling Bee hints — Sep 11
- Letter Boxed hints — Sep 11
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words