NYT Connections Hints for 2026-09-01 — Puzzle #1178
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
1. The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
2. The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:
I P _ _ _ _ _ _L _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ _ _P _ _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _ F _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ W _ _ _ _ O _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
"I PROMISE!"
Show theme 2
LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER
Show theme 3
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTION
Show theme 4
STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION
NYT Connections answer for 2026-09-01
"I PROMISE!"
FOR REAL, CROSS MY HEART, PINKY SWEAR, ON GOD
LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER
ARROW, GOLF CLUB, PICK-UP STICK, SPAGHETTO
PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTION
SAM SPADE, MIKE HAMMER, SHERLOCK HOLMES, HERCULE POIROT
STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION
PLANETARIUM, HOPE DIAMOND, WISHY-WASHY, AIMEE MANN
Frequently asked questions
The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:I P _ _ _ _ _ _L _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ _ _P _ _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _ F _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ W _ _ _ _ O _ I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1"I PROMISE!"Show theme 2LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHERShow theme 3PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTIONShow theme 4STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
- 2026-09-20 — #1197
- 2026-09-19 — #1196
- 2026-09-18 — #1195
- 2026-09-17 — #1194
- 2026-09-16 — #1193
- 2026-09-15 — #1192
- 2026-09-14 — #1191
- 2026-09-13 — #1190
This site is an independent hints page. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times. Game names are used only to describe the games.