A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1190
hints & answers for September 13, 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 13, 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
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, F, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DROOPY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LACKING IN FIRMNESS

Reveal all four words
  • DROOPY
  • FLACCID
  • SAGGING
  • SLACK

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, G, G and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CLEVELAND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

U.S. PRESIDENTS

Reveal all four words
  • CLEVELAND
  • GARFIELD
  • GRANT
  • MADISON

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with E, E, K and O. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

EMPTY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

Reveal all four words
  • EMPTY
  • EXCESS
  • KEWPIE
  • ODIE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with D, H, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DOUBLESPEAK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING IN ELEVATED LANDFORMS

Reveal all four words
  • DOUBLESPEAK
  • HEATHCLIFF
  • PARAMOUNT
  • PORRIDGE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: LACKING IN FIRMNESS
  • Green: U.S. PRESIDENTS
  • Blue: WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS
  • Purple: ENDING IN ELEVATED LANDFORMS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

LACKING IN FIRMNESS

DROOPY · FLACCID · SAGGING · SLACK

Green

U.S. PRESIDENTS

CLEVELAND · GARFIELD · GRANT · MADISON

Blue

WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

EMPTY · EXCESS · KEWPIE · ODIE

Purple

ENDING IN ELEVATED LANDFORMS

DOUBLESPEAK · HEATHCLIFF · PARAMOUNT · PORRIDGE

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.