NYT Connections is back with another tricky word challenge. The September 17, 2026 puzzle (#1194) asks players to sort 16 words into four hidden groups. Today’s themes center on flexibility, underground structures, Hugh Jackman movies that pair with “The,” and phrases that follow “Love.”
Hints for September 17, 2026
If you’re feeling stuck, use these color-coded hints to guide your thinking.
- Yellow (Easiest): Think of words that describe elasticity or the ability to bend without breaking.
- Green (Moderate): These are structures you would expect to find beneath the ground.
- Blue (Challenging): The group is made up of Hugh Jackman movie titles when you add “The” to the beginning.
- Purple (Hardest): Each word can follow “Love” to create a familiar phrase.
NYT Connections Answers for September 17, 2026
Ready to check your solutions? Here are all four groups for puzzle #1194.
- Yellow — Elasticity: BOUNCE, FLEXIBILITY, GIVE, SPRING
- Green — Things That Are Underground: MINE SHAFT, SEWER LINES, SUBWAY STATION, WELL
- Blue — Hugh Jackman Movies, With “The”: FOUNTAIN, PRESTIGE, SHEEP DETECTIVES, WOLVERINE
- Purple — Love ___: HANDLES, LANGUAGE, TAP, TRIANGLE
If you solved all four groups before peeking, congratulations. If not, these answers should help you see which connections were hiding in plain sight.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections gives players a 16-word grid and asks them to identify four groups of four words that share a common theme. Unlike a traditional crossword, the puzzle relies on recognizing subtle links between words. Every day brings a fresh set of categories, making the challenge both demanding and exciting for word-game fans.
Final Thoughts
Puzzle #1194 is a great example of why NYT Connections has become such a popular daily ritual. It rewards vocabulary skills, lateral thinking, and a bit of pop-culture knowledge all at once. Check back tomorrow for another set of hints and answers.