Here are the hints and answers for today’s NYT Connections puzzle for September 10, 2026. Today’s puzzle is #1,187 and features categories covering chemical elements, things seen outside windows, Bruce Springsteen songs and clever word endings.
If you are trying to solve the puzzle without revealing all the answers, the hints below can help you find the four groups. If you are ready for the complete solution, the answers are included further down.
Hints for Today’s NYT Connections Groups
Here are four hints for today’s NYT Connections puzzle, starting with the easiest yellow group and moving toward the trickier purple category.
- Yellow group hint: Found in the periodic table.
- Green group hint: You might see these sticking out of a window.
- Blue group hint: Think American singer-songwriter.
- Purple group hint: Think words that mean “happening now.”
The four categories use different types of connections, so look beyond simple word associations when working through today’s grid.
Answers for Today’s Connections Groups
If you want the complete NYT Connections answers, here are today’s four categories:
- Yellow group: Chemical elements
- Green group: What you might see sticking out of a window
- Blue group: Bruce Springsteen classics
- Purple group: Ending in synonyms for “happening now”
What Are Today’s NYT Connections Answers?
The 16 words in today’s puzzle are divided into four groups of four. Some connections are fairly direct, while others rely on recognizing a phrase or a word hidden at the end of another term.
The Yellow Words in Today’s Connections
The theme is chemical elements.
The four answers are Actinium, Krypton, Lead and Sulfur.
All four are elements found on the periodic table. Krypton is a noble gas, while lead is a metal. Actinium and sulfur are also naturally occurring chemical elements. This is one of the more straightforward groups once you identify the science-related entries.
The Green Words in Today’s Connections
The theme is what you might see sticking out of a window.
The four answers are Air Conditioner, Catio, Clothesline and Flower Box.
These items can be found extending from or positioned outside windows and buildings. An air conditioner can protrude from a window, while a clothesline or flower box can be positioned outside. A catio is an enclosed outdoor space designed for cats and can also be connected to a window or building exterior.
The Blue Words in Today’s Connections
The theme is Bruce Springsteen classics.
The four answers are Atlantic City, Badlands, Born to Run and Thunder Road.
These are all well-known songs associated with American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen. Born to Run and Thunder Road are among his most recognizable songs, while Badlands and Atlantic City are also notable tracks from his extensive catalog.
This category becomes easier if you recognize Springsteen’s music, but some players may initially mistake the entries for locations or general phrases.
The Purple Words in Today’s Connections
The theme is ending in synonyms for “happening now.”
The four answers are Adult Contemporary, Alternating Current, Represent and Sextant.
The trick is to examine the endings of the words or phrases. They contain terms associated with the idea of something happening in the present. For example, contemporary means existing or occurring at the same time or in the present period, while current can mean happening or existing now.
This makes the purple category the most wordplay-heavy group in today’s NYT Connections puzzle.
Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle Explained
Today’s puzzle combines science, everyday objects, music and wordplay. The yellow category is based on a direct factual connection, while the green group asks you to picture objects extending from a building.
The blue category tests pop-culture knowledge through Bruce Springsteen’s music. The purple group is the trickiest because the connection depends on the endings of the entries rather than their overall meanings.
As with other NYT Connections hints, it can help to solve the most obvious category first. Removing four confirmed words makes it easier to identify the remaining groups and avoid misleading connections.
Conclusion
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for September 10, 2026, offers a balanced mix of straightforward knowledge and clever wordplay. Chemical elements and Bruce Springsteen classics provide recognizable themes, while the window-related group and the final word-ending category require closer attention.
If you were stuck on today’s puzzle, these NYT Connections hints and answers should help explain how all 16 entries fit into their respective groups.
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