NYT Connections Hint & AnswersPuzzle #1182 · September 6, 2026
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Get a single-word clue, a category hint, or the full answer for Puzzle #1182 — you choose exactly how much help you need.
Written by Hint Team · Updated September 6, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Puzzle #1182 (September 6, 2026) is rated Medium difficulty.
- 16 words sort into 4 hidden categories — Yellow (easiest) to Purple (hardest).
- Every word and every category has its own spoiler-free hint below.
- Full answers are revealed only when you tap to see them — nothing spoils automatically.
Today's Tip
NYT Connections #1183 brings together phrases about unrestricted permission, computer hardware, redundant abbreviations, and words related to cutting or marking a surface. If some words seem to fit more than one group, look closely at the exact wording of each phrase.
Hint For Each Word
Tap any tile to see what it means in today's puzzle — no spoilers.
Hints For All Four Categories
Ordered from easiest to hardest — reveal only as much as you need.
Traps & Misdirects
Words placed on purpose to mislead you — spot these before you burn a guess.
CARD SLOT, ATM MACHINE
Both can make you think of banking. An ATM can have a place where a card is inserted, so CARD SLOT may look like it belongs with ATM MACHINE. But CARD SLOT belongs to the computer hardware group while ATM MACHINE belongs to the redundant abbreviation group.
LCD DISPLAY, USB PORT
Both phrases are strongly connected with computers. However, LCD DISPLAY belongs to the Blue group because DISPLAY repeats information already present in LCD. USB PORT belongs to Green because it is a place where something can be inserted or connected.
FREE REIGN
Many solvers expect the familiar expression to be written as “free rein.” Today's puzzle uses FREE REIGN. That unusual spelling can make the phrase look suspicious even though it is one of the Yellow answers.
BLANK CHECK
A blank check immediately makes you think about banks and money. In Connections, however, the important idea is its figurative meaning: giving someone broad freedom to spend or act.
SAT SCORE
Most people naturally read “score” as a test result. The Purple group asks you to notice another meaning of SCORE: making a shallow mark or cut on a surface.
Today's Full Answers
All four groups, revealed only when you're ready.
Answers are hidden by default so you can solve at your own pace. Tap below when you're ready to see everything.
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Our Connections hints help you crack all 16 words into their four correct groups — without spoiling the fun. Start with gentle, spoiler-free clues, and only unlock more as you need them. We'll walk you step by step, from subtle hints to full category reveals and today's complete answers.
How to Use Our NYT Connections Hints
Every player gets stuck at a different point in the puzzle — knowing exactly where you're stuck is the fastest way to find the right hint. Match your situation below, use that hint, and get back to solving.
You Don't Recognize a Word's Meaning
Puzzle editor Wyna Liu often picks words with a specific or unusual meaning, especially in the green, blue, and purple groups. If you don't know what a word means in context, you can't confidently place it.
Use the Word Hint. It explains what that word means for today's puzzle. Just tap any word on the board to open its hint card.
None of the 16 Words Are Clicking Into Groups
Connections categories are built around a theme, not just word meaning — so the link between words isn't always obvious at first glance.
Use the Category Hint. It points you toward the theme of a group without naming the category or listing its words. Start with the Yellow Category Hint — yellow is always the easiest.
You Think You Have a Group, But You're Not Sure
A wrong guess costs you one of your four allowed mistakes, so it pays to confirm before you commit.
Use the Category Name. It reveals the exact name of a group without showing which words belong to it. If your guess matches, go for it; if not, you've dodged a mistake. Tap the color you're testing to see it.
A Word Seems to Fit More Than One Group
Wyna Liu deliberately plants misleading words that look like they belong in more than one category — these trip up more players than anything else in the puzzle.
Use the Traps and Misdirects Hint. It flags the tricky words in today's puzzle and explains why they don't belong where you'd expect.
You Know the Category, Just Not All the Words
You've spotted the theme but can't pin down every word that fits it.
Use the Word Reveal. It uncovers one word at a time, so you only see as much as you need — open your identified category and reveal words one by one until the group is complete.
New to Connections, or want to get better?
The full rules, what each difficulty color means, and strategies for spotting traps live in one place — our complete how-to-play guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Today's Connections hints give you a small clue about each group without revealing the full answers right away. You can use them when you're stuck but still want to solve the puzzle yourself.
Still have a question, or spotted a mistake in today's puzzle? Get in touch.
