Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Keeping your balance is proving difficult.
Show one word
SWAY belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MOVE UNSTEADILY
Reveal all four words
- SWAY
- TODDLE
- TOTTER
- WOBBLE
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1182
hints & answers for September 5, 2026
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#1182
This reference always shows September 5, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
Listen for calls from the feathered world.
Show one word
COO belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA
Reveal all four words
- COO
- GOBBLE
- HONK
- WARBLE
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
Try the same body-related ending after each one.
Show one word
BOBBLE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
___HEAD
Reveal all four words
- BOBBLE
- HAMMER
- JUG
- SLEEPY
The entries form BOBBLEHEAD, HAMMERHEAD, JUGHEAD and SLEEPYHEAD.
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
Something sweet is almost there; restore one final letter.
Show one word
COBBLE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER
Reveal all four words
- COBBLE
- PI
- TAR
- TORT
Adding the missing final letters gives COBBLER, PIE, TART and TORTE.
Show categories only
- Yellow: MOVE UNSTEADILY
- Green: BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA
- Blue: ___HEAD
- Purple: DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
MOVE UNSTEADILY
SWAY · TODDLE · TOTTER · WOBBLE
Green
BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA
COO · GOBBLE · HONK · WARBLE
Blue
___HEAD
BOBBLE · HAMMER · JUG · SLEEPY
Purple
DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER
COBBLE · PI · TAR · TORT
This puzzle’s recorded solution
The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.
Continue from this date
About the answers and hints
Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.
Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.
The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.