The New York Times Connections puzzle for September 9, 2026, presents a clever mix of wordplay and thematic grouping that will test even experienced solvers. Today’s grid features 16 words that fall into four hidden categories: terms meaning ‘hard to understand,’ words with prefixes indicating smallness, classic horror movies, and terms that pair with ‘Force.’ With overlapping themes and a few tricky double-dippers, this puzzle offers a satisfying challenge from start to finish.
How NYT Connections Works
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four, each linked by a common theme or meaning. The difficulty is indicated by color: Yellow (easiest), Green (moderate), Blue (challenging), and Purple (most complex, often involving wordplay or niche references). Players have limited mistakes, which keeps the game tight and engaging.
Today’s Word List
The September 9 grid includes the following words:
- BEWILDERING
- OPAQUE
- MICROBREWERY
- MINIVAN
- ARACHNOPHOBIA
- HALLOWEEN
- BRUTE
- ELECTROMAGNETIC
- G
- TASK
- NANOTECHNOLOGY
- PICOSECOND
- ESOTERIC
- INCOMPREHENSIBLE
- IT
- SAW
Hints for Each Category
If you’re stuck, here are clues to help you find the correct groups:
- Yellow Group: Think of common phrases used to describe something you didn’t understand.
- Green Group: Look for words that contain prefixes meaning ‘small.’
- Blue Group: These are all titles of horror movies.
- Purple Group: Consider terms that naturally precede the word ‘Force.’
One-Word Hints
Still struggling? These single-word hints might point you in the right direction:
- Yellow Group: BEWILDERING
- Green Group: MINIVAN
- Blue Group: IT
- Purple Group: TASK
Complete Answers for September 9, 2026
If you need the full solutions, here are the four groups:
- Yellow Group (HARD TO UNDERSTAND): BEWILDERING, ESOTERIC, INCOMPREHENSIBLE, OPAQUE
- Green Group (WORDS WITH ‘SMALL’ PREFIXES): MICROBREWERY, MINIVAN, NANOTECHNOLOGY, PICOSECOND
- Blue Group (HORROR MOVIES): ARACHNOPHOBIA, HALLOWEEN, IT, SAW
- Purple Group (WORDS BEFORE ‘FORCE’): BRUTE, ELECTROMAGNETIC, G, TASK
Final Thoughts
Today’s puzzle strikes a perfect balance between accessibility and depth. The categories range from straightforward to clever, with the purple group delivering a satisfying ‘aha’ moment. Whether you’re a casual player or a daily solver, this edition of NYT Connections offers a rewarding mental workout without becoming frustrating.
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