Daily Puzzle Hints

NYT Connections Hints for 2026-09-05 — Puzzle #1182

Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.

Source: the official puzzle feed (official NYT feed), retrieved . Hints are derived from the official answer data — no invented clues, difficulty scores or word claims.

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:

3. Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1

MOVE UNSTEADILY

Show theme 2

BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA

Show theme 3

___HEAD

Show theme 4

DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER

NYT Connections answer for 2026-09-05

MOVE UNSTEADILY

WOBBLE, TODDLE, SWAY, TOTTER

BIRD ONOMATOPOEIA

HONK, GOBBLE, WARBLE, COO

___HEAD

SLEEPY, BOBBLE, HAMMER, JUG

DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER

COBBLE, TAR, PI, TORT

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:M _ _ _ U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _B _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _H _ _ _D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _

Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1MOVE UNSTEADILYShow theme 2BIRD ONOMATOPOEIAShow theme 3___HEADShow theme 4DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER

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