A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1184
hints & answers for September 7, 2026

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows September 7, 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.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
Gentle hint

The account may have grown considerably in the telling.

Show one word

FABRICATION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

QUITE THE SAGA

Reveal all four words
  • FABRICATION
  • FISH STORY
  • TALL TALE
  • YARN

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Pieces that help an undergarment fit, fasten or support.

Show one word

CUP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTS OF A BRA

Reveal all four words
  • CUP
  • HOOK
  • STRAP
  • UNDERWIRE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Think of a familiar evergreen and the things it brings to mind.

Show one word

CAR AIR FRESHENER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES

Reveal all four words
  • CAR AIR FRESHENER
  • CHRISTMAS
  • NEEDLES
  • TURPENTINE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Gentle hint

Animated-film names hide at the starts of these longer entries.

Show one word

PLUTONIUM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS

Reveal all four words
  • PLUTONIUM
  • SCAR TISSUE
  • STITCH MARKER
  • TRAMPOLINE

The beginnings are PLUTO, SCAR, STITCH and TRAMP, all Disney characters.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: QUITE THE SAGA
  • Green: PARTS OF A BRA
  • Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
  • Purple: STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

QUITE THE SAGA

FABRICATION · FISH STORY · TALL TALE · YARN

Green

PARTS OF A BRA

CUP · HOOK · STRAP · UNDERWIRE

Blue

ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES

CAR AIR FRESHENER · CHRISTMAS · NEEDLES · TURPENTINE

Purple

STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS

PLUTONIUM · SCAR TISSUE · STITCH MARKER · TRAMPOLINE

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.

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.