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Verified archive for September 11, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1188

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 11, 2026

Connections puzzle #1188 for September 11, 2026 combines event-related roles, verbs about internalizing information, self-care practices and nouns that complete metaphorical expressions with “push.”

Guide editorMaya BrooksSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

How the September 11 board is organized

The route follows the verified yellow, green, blue and purple order. Potential overlap is described only as something a player may notice on the board.

Overall difficultyThe verified order moves from yellow through green and blue to purple, with the final group requiring recognition of a shared metaphorical construction.Biggest trapSeveral words can work as verbs in ordinary sentences, so grammatical form alone does not isolate a complete group. In particular, JOURNAL and MEDITATE belong together, while DIGEST and PROCESS share a separate official group.Best first moveStart with BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER and PLANNER. All four fit the official category PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT without requiring a change in form.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow and green groups can be approached through direct category matching, provided each proposed set accounts for exactly four words.

The blue group collects actions under a stated self-care category, while the purple group depends on testing the same metaphorical verb before four nouns.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Secure the event set first, then compare ABSORB, DIGEST, PROCESS and TAKE IN as ways to INTERNALIZE. Remove the four self-care actions next, leaving four nouns that are metaphorically pushed.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Event hiresReveal this group

What connects BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER and PLANNER?

BAND · FLORIST · PHOTOGRAPHER · PLANNER

PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT. BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER and PLANNER are the four entries in the official PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT category.

Best anchor: Begin with the four event-related hires.

Taking information inReveal this group

What connects ABSORB, DIGEST, PROCESS and TAKE IN?

ABSORB · DIGEST · PROCESS · TAKE IN

INTERNALIZE. ABSORB, DIGEST, PROCESS and TAKE IN all fit the official relationship INTERNALIZE in the senses required by this group.

Best anchor: Read each entry as an act of internalizing.

Self-care actionsReveal this group

What connects EXERCISE, JOURNAL, MEDITATE and UNPLUG?

EXERCISE · JOURNAL · MEDITATE · UNPLUG

WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE. EXERCISE, JOURNAL, MEDITATE and UNPLUG make up the official WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE group.

Best anchor: Treat JOURNAL as an action in this set.

Metaphorical objects of “push”Reveal this group

What connects AGENDA, ENVELOPE, LIMITS and LUCK?

AGENDA · ENVELOPE · LIMITS · LUCK

THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY. AGENDA, ENVELOPE, LIMITS and LUCK preserve the official relationship THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY.

Best anchor: Place “push” before each of the four nouns.

Today’s supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideWhy BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER and PLANNER Go TogetherExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow ABSORB, DIGEST, PROCESS and TAKE IN Mean INTERNALIZEExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy EXERCISE, JOURNAL, MEDITATE and UNPLUG Are Self-Care PracticesExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow AGENDA, ENVELOPE, LIMITS and LUCK Are Pushed MetaphoricallyExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT

    Begin with the four event-related hires.

  2. 2
    INTERNALIZE

    Read each entry as an act of internalizing.

  3. 3
    WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE

    Treat JOURNAL as an action in this set.

  4. 4
    THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY

    Place “push” before each of the four nouns.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with BAND, FLORIST, PHOTOGRAPHER and PLANNER. All four fit the official category PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT without requiring a change in form..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Yellow, the first level in the verified color order. groupEvent hires
PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT: Begin with the four event-related hires.
Green, the second level in the verified color order. groupTaking information in
INTERNALIZE: Read each entry as an act of internalizing.
Blue, the third level in the verified color order. groupSelf-care actions
WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE: Treat JOURNAL as an action in this set.
Purple, the fourth level in the verified color order. groupMetaphorical objects of “push”
THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY: Place “push” before each of the four nouns.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Language guideBand Meaning: The Musical Group Sense and Other Uses

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideDigest Meaning: Understanding the Mental-Processing Sense

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideTake In Meaning: The Understanding Sense in Context

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Maya Brooks

Maya focuses on exact category logic, ambiguous overlaps and hints that help without giving the group away.

Read Maya’s profile →