Start the Week With a Win Using These NYT Connections (#1,191) Hints, Clues, and Answers (September 14, 2026)

Today’s Connections grid is a tricky one. If you’re finding it hard to figure out the common themes linking these words together, scroll down and take a look at the hints we’ve curated for you. Keep scrolling if you’d like to see one word from each category and the list of themes. The answers and their explanations are listed at the end of the page. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the hints, clues, and answers to today’s NYT Connections (#1,191, September 14, 2026).

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What is Connections?

The New York Times has a thriving online word game section, with Connections being the second-most-played title behind the crown jewel, Wordle. The rules of this game are simple – you need to find 4 groups comprising 4 words each in a 16-word grid. The words in each group are united by a common theme. The Yellow group is the easiest one to spot, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple (toughest). Sometimes, there are red herrings and misdirects in the grid to throw you off your game, so don’t take your thinking cap off at any time! Ready to lock in? You can play Connections in the NYT Games app or on the NYT website.

Here’s your grid for today

• STRAW
• CRAB
• COOT
• LEMON
• BLUE
• CANARY
• TEAL
• RAT
• LOON
• BAG
• WHEAT
• CUTLERY
• SNITCH
• GOOSE
• STIRRER
• STOOLIE

Hints for NYT Connections (#1,191) September 14, 2026

Let’s get you started with some general, spoiler-free hints.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Found in water bodies.
• 🟢Green Group: Whistleblower.
• 🔵Blue Group: Made by a common material for temporary use.
• 🟣Purple Group: Followed by a common word which is found in gardens and lawns.

One Word Per Category (Contains Spoilers)

Can’t seem to find an in? We’ll give you one word from each category.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Coot.
• 🟢Green Group: Canary.
• 🔵Blue Group: Bag.
• 🟣Purple Group: Blue.

List of Themes (Major Spoilers)

Maybe getting to know the common themes among the words will help you spot them faster. Here are all the categories for today.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Waterbirds
• 🟢Green Group: Informant.
• 🔵Blue Group: Common Single-Use Plastic Items.
• 🟣Purple Group: ___ Grass.

Answers to NYT Connections (#) Today (Date)

Close to waving the white flag? Fine, we’ll give you the answers.

• 🟡Yellow Group: Coot, Goose, Loon, Teal. (Waterbirds)

These birds live on or around water bodies.

• 🟢Green Group: Canary, Rat, Snitch, Stoolie. (Informant)

A betraying telltale is referred to using one of these words.

• 🔵Blue Group: Bag, Cutlery, Stirrer, Straw. (Common Single-Use Plastic Items)

These disposable items are made from plastic.

• 🟣Purple Group: Blue, Crab, Lemon, Wheat. (___ Grass)

Bluegrass – Music genre. Crabgrass – Digitaria. Lemongrass – Plant. Wheatgrass – Superfood.

Answers to yesterday’s puzzle (1,190, September 13, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Droopy, Flaccid, Sagging, Slack. (Lacking In Firmness)
• 🟢Green Group: Cleveland, Garfield, Grant, Madison. (U.S. Presidents)
• 🔵Blue Group: Empty, Excess, Kewpie, Odie. (Words That Sound Like Two Letters)
• 🟣Purple Group: Doublespeak, Heathcliff, Paramount, Porridge. (Ending In Elevated Landforms)

Answers to NYT Connections #1,189 (September 12, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Bumper Sticker, Fuzzy Dice, Hood Ornament, Vanity Plate. (Ways To Personalize A Car)
• 🟢Green Group: Lurker, Poster, Spammer, Troll. (People In An Online Forum)
• 🔵Blue Group: Cursor, Eyelids, Smoke Detector, Turn Signal. (Things That Blink)
• 🟣Purple Group: Nerd, Red, Spoiler, Weather. (___ Alert)

Answers to NYT Connections #1,188 (September 11, 2026)

• 🟡Yellow Group: Band, Florist, Photographer, Planner. (People Hired For An Event)
• 🟢Green Group: Absorb, Process, Digest, Take In. (Internalize)
• 🔵Blue Group: Exercise, Journal, Meditate, Unplug. (Ways To Practice Self-Care)
• 🟣Purple Group: Agenda, Envelope, Limits, Luck. (Things That Are Pushed Metaphorically)

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How did other solvers do today?

NYT’s early testers rated today’s Connections puzzle 2.3 out of 5. This puts it in the medium difficulty level. Let us know how you fared in the comments!