NYT Connections Hint & AnswersPuzzle #1191 · September 14, 2026
Stuck on today's NYT Connections puzzle? Get a single-word clue, a category hint, or the full answer for Puzzle #1191 — you choose exactly how much help you need.
Written by Hint Team · Updated September 14, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Puzzle #1191 (September 14, 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 14 Sep, or NYT Connections hints for September 14? Today's NYT Connections puzzle mixes waterbirds, people who act as informants, common single-use plastic items, and words that can come before GRASS.
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.
CANARY, COOT, GOOSE, LOON
CANARY is clearly a bird, so it is an easy word to place beside COOT, GOOSE, and LOON. But CANARY is not part of the waterbird group. It belongs to INFORMANT because “canary” can be used as a slang term for someone who gives information.
CRAB, COOT, GOOSE, LOON, CANARY, RAT
There are several animal names on the board, which can make you look for a broad animal category. The puzzle is much more specific. COOT, GOOSE, LOON, and TEAL are the waterbirds, while CANARY and RAT belong to the informant group and CRAB belongs with GRASS.
CANARY, RAT, COOT, GOOSE
CANARY and RAT can both look like animals that belong with COOT and GOOSE. Their hidden connection is actually their slang meanings. Both CANARY and RAT can describe an informant.
CRAB, COOT, GOOSE, LOON
CRAB is another animal name that can tempt you to group it with the birds. But CRAB does not belong to the waterbird category. Add GRASS and you get crabgrass, making CRAB part of the Purple group.
LEMON, WHEAT, STRAW, STIRRER
LEMON and WHEAT can both make you think about food or drinks, while STRAW and STIRRER are common drink-related items. The actual connection is different: LEMON and WHEAT form lemongrass and wheatgrass, while STRAW and STIRRER belong to the single-use plastic group.
STRAW, STIRRER, CUTLERY, BAG
These four can all be found at restaurants, cafés, or takeout counters. That surface-level connection is useful, but the exact category is COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS.
BLUE, TEAL, LEMON, WHEAT
BLUE and TEAL can both make you think of colors, while LEMON and WHEAT can suggest food. The real connection is hidden in the word combinations: bluegrass, lemongrass, and wheatgrass belong to Purple, while TEAL is a waterbird.
GOOSE, CANARY, TEAL, LOON
All four are bird names, but only GOOSE, TEAL, and LOON belong to the waterbird group. CANARY is the fourth member of the INFORMANT group.
RAT, SNITCH, STOOLIE, CANARY
These four words have very different everyday sounds, but they all point toward the same idea: someone who gives information about another person. Recognizing the slang meanings makes the Green group much easier.
BLUE, CRAB, LEMON, WHEAT
These words look completely unrelated when read on their own. The connection appears only after adding GRASS: bluegrass, crabgrass, lemongrass, and wheatgrass. This is why the Purple group can be easy to overlook.
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.
