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Verified archive for September 14, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1191

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 14, 2026

Connections puzzle #1191 for September 14, 2026 divides these sixteen words among waterbirds, informants, single-use plastic items, and words that precede GRASS.

Guide editorJordan EllisEditor

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

September 14, 2026 Connections overview

The group titles and words preserve the verified source exactly. Difficulty descriptions refer only to the verified yellow, green, blue, and purple sequence.

Overall difficultyThe progression follows the verified color order from yellow through green and blue to purple.Biggest trapCANARY, COOT, GOOSE, and TEAL may suggest a four-bird set, but COOT, GOOSE, and TEAL belong with LOON under WATERBIRDS, while CANARY belongs under INFORMANT.Best first moveStart by testing COOT, GOOSE, LOON, and TEAL together under the exact WATERBIRDS category.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow and green groups use direct category labels: WATERBIRDS and INFORMANT.

The blue group names four COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS, while purple completes four compounds ending in GRASS.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Confirm the four WATERBIRDS first, then separate the four INFORMANT terms. Group the four entries listed as COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS, leaving BLUE, CRAB, LEMON, and WHEAT to complete the ___GRASS pattern.

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.

WaterbirdsReveal this group

What connects COOT, GOOSE, LOON and TEAL?

COOT · GOOSE · LOON · TEAL

WATERBIRDS. COOT, GOOSE, LOON, and TEAL are the four entries grouped under the exact category WATERBIRDS.

Best anchor: Four names in the WATERBIRDS category

InformantReveal this group

What connects CANARY, RAT, SNITCH and STOOLIE?

CANARY · RAT · SNITCH · STOOLIE

INFORMANT. CANARY, RAT, SNITCH, and STOOLIE are the four entries grouped under the exact category INFORMANT.

Best anchor: Four terms grouped as INFORMANT

Single-use plastic itemsReveal this group

What connects BAG, CUTLERY, STIRRER and STRAW?

BAG · CUTLERY · STIRRER · STRAW

COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS. BAG, CUTLERY, STIRRER, and STRAW are grouped under the exact category COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS.

Best anchor: The four listed single-use plastic items

Words before GRASSReveal this group

What connects BLUE, CRAB, LEMON and WHEAT?

BLUE · CRAB · LEMON · WHEAT

___GRASS. BLUE, CRAB, LEMON, and WHEAT each complete the exact ___GRASS pattern: bluegrass, crabgrass, lemongrass, and wheatgrass.

Best anchor: Four words placed directly before GRASS

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
    WATERBIRDS

    Four names in the WATERBIRDS category

  2. 2
    INFORMANT

    Four terms grouped as INFORMANT

  3. 3
    COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS

    The four listed single-use plastic items

  4. 4
    ___GRASS

    Four words placed directly before GRASS

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 by testing COOT, GOOSE, LOON, and TEAL together under the exact WATERBIRDS category..

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 group in the verified color order. groupWaterbirds
WATERBIRDS: Four names in the WATERBIRDS category
Green, the second group in the verified color order. groupInformant
INFORMANT: Four terms grouped as INFORMANT
Blue, the third group in the verified color order. groupSingle-use plastic items
COMMON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC ITEMS: The four listed single-use plastic items
Purple, the fourth group in the verified color order. groupWords before GRASS
___GRASS: Four words placed directly before GRASS

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

Jordan Ellis

Jordan connects editorial explanations with practice tools, custom puzzles and the site’s future original games.

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