NYT Connections Hint & AnswersPuzzle #1190 · September 13, 2026
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Get a single-word clue, a category hint, or the full answer for Puzzle #1190 — you choose exactly how much help you need.
Written by Hint Team · Updated September 13, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Puzzle #1190 (September 13, 2026) is rated Hard 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
Looking for today's Connections hints, a Connections Hint 13 Sep, or NYT Connections hints for September 13? Today's NYT Connections puzzle mixes words describing a lack of firmness, U.S. presidents, words that sound like two letters, and words ending with elevated landforms.
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.
GARFIELD, HEATHCLIFF, ODIE, DROOPY
This is one of today's strongest traps. GARFIELD, HEATHCLIFF, and ODIE are all strongly associated with cartoon characters, while DROOPY is also a famous cartoon character. It looks like a natural group, but it is completely wrong. GARFIELD belongs to U.S. PRESIDENTS, HEATHCLIFF belongs to ELEVATED LANDFORMS, ODIE belongs to WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS, and DROOPY belongs to LACKING IN FIRMNESS. Forbes specifically highlights this cartoon-character misdirect.
GARFIELD, HEATHCLIFF, ODIE
GARFIELD is probably the biggest distraction on the board because most players will first think of the orange cartoon cat. The intended meaning is James A. Garfield, a former U.S. president.
HEATHCLIFF, GARFIELD, ODIE
HEATHCLIFF looks like another character name and can easily join the cartoon-character trap. But the useful part is CLIFF, which is an elevated landform and completes the Purple group.
ODIE, GARFIELD, HEATHCLIFF
ODIE strongly suggests the cartoon dog from Garfield. Instead, say the word aloud. Odie sounds like O-D, placing it in the Blue group.
EMPTY, EXCESS, KEWPIE, ODIE
These words look completely unrelated on the page. The connection only appears when you pronounce them: M-T, X-S, Q-P, O-D. This makes the Blue group easy to miss if you focus only on spelling.
PORRIDGE, DROOPY, SLACK
PORRIDGE naturally suggests food, while DROOPY and SLACK describe physical conditions. The trick is to ignore the main meaning of PORRIDGE and notice its ending: RIDGE.
DOUBLESPEAK, EXCESS, KEWPIE
DOUBLESPEAK looks like an abstract word about language, while EXCESS and KEWPIE hide their connections through sound. DOUBLESPEAK actually belongs to Purple because it ends in PEAK.
PARAMOUNT, CLEVELAND, GRANT
PARAMOUNT can look like a proper name or something important or superior. The useful part is MOUNT, which is an elevated landform. CLEVELAND and GRANT instead belong to the U.S. presidents group.
CLEVELAND, MADISON, GARFIELD
These names can also refer to cities, places, or fictional characters. In today's puzzle they are all presidential surnames. Recognizing CLEVELAND, GARFIELD, GRANT, and MADISON as presidents completes the Green group.
DROOPY, FLACCID, SAGGING, SLACK
DROOPY can tempt players toward the cartoon-character connection because of the famous animated dog. But its ordinary meaning is the key here. Along with FLACCID, SAGGING, and SLACK, it describes something lacking in firmness.
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.
