Another day, another NYT Connections grid with 16 words standing between you and a perfect solve. If today’s puzzle has you staring at the screen wondering where everything fits, you’re definitely not alone.
Puzzle #1194, released on September 17, 2026, has a few clever traps. The grid mixes words related to elasticity, underground places, Hugh Jackman movies, and some sneaky “Love” wordplay.
We’ve put the hints first, followed by the full answers, so you can stop reading as soon as you figure out the groups yourself.
What Is NYT Connections?
Connections is the New York Times’ daily word-grouping puzzle. Each day, you’re given 16 words that need to be divided into four groups of four.
The four categories are represented by different colors: yellow, green, blue, and purple. Yellow is generally the easiest group to spot, while purple is usually the most challenging and often involves wordplay or an unexpected connection.
You get four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends, so there’s a little room for experimentation. The goal, of course, is to find all four groups without making a mistake.
Today’s NYT Connections Hints: September 17, 2026
Not ready to see the answers? Here are some hints to point you in the right direction.
- Yellow: Words connected to stretchiness or elasticity
- Green: Places or structures found underground
- Blue: Hugh Jackman movies when you put “The” before the word
- Purple: Phrases and song titles connected to “Love”
Still stuck? The blue group is probably the biggest trap. The words don’t immediately look like movie titles, but adding one small word changes everything.
NYT Connections Answers for September 17, 2026
Ready for the solutions? Here’s the complete breakdown for puzzle #1194.
Yellow: Elasticity
- Bounce
- Flexibility
- Give
- Spring
These words can all describe stretch, movement, or the ability to bend and recover. “Give” and “spring” are especially useful here because they can easily pull you toward other possible meanings.
Green: Things That Are Underground
- Mine Shaft
- Sewer Line
- Subway Station
- Well
This group is much more straightforward once you see the connection. Each one refers to a place or structure located below ground.
Blue: Hugh Jackman Movies With “The”
- Fountain
- Prestige
- Sheep Detectives
- Wolverine
Here’s where the puzzle gets tricky.
Put “The” in front of each word and they become movie titles associated with Hugh Jackman: The Fountain, The Prestige, The Sheep Detectives, and The Wolverine.
It’s a classic Connections trick. The individual words don’t necessarily look related, but adding the same word reveals the hidden connection.
Purple: Love ___
- Love LANGUAGE
- Love TAP (a gentle touch or collision)
- Love HANDLES
- Love TRIANGLE
The purple category uses the word “Love” as the connecting idea, tying together phrases and song titles.
As usual with the purple group, the connection is less literal and requires you to think about how the words are used in familiar titles and phrases.
Quick Connections Answers Recap
- Yellow: Elasticity – BOUNCE, FLEXIBILITY, GIVE, SPRING
- Green: Things That Are Underground – MINE SHAFT, SEWER LINE, SUBWAY STATION,WELL
- Blue: Hugh Jackman Movies With “The” – FOUNTAIN, PRESTIGE, SHEEP DETECTIVES, WOLVERINE
- Purple: Love ___ – Love LANGUAGE, Love TAP (a gentle touch or collision), Love HANDLES, Love TRIANGLE
Why NYT Connections Can Be So Tricky
The biggest challenge with Connections is that individual words can point you in several different directions.
Take Wolverine, for example. Most players will probably think of the Marvel character first, especially because Hugh Jackman is so closely associated with the role. But in this puzzle, the important clue is what happens when you put “The” before it.
That’s what makes Connections so satisfying. The puzzle isn’t always testing whether you know a particular fact. Sometimes, it’s testing whether you can look at a familiar word from a completely different angle.
Tips for Solving NYT Connections Faster
Having trouble getting through the grid? A few strategies can make these puzzles much easier:
- Start with the most obvious group. Yellow is usually the easiest place to begin.
- Look for words with multiple meanings. These are often deliberately placed to confuse you.
- Don’t lock in a category too quickly. If a word fits several possible groups, there’s probably a trap nearby.
- Think about titles and phrases. Words that look unrelated may connect when another word is added.
- Use the shuffle button. Sometimes moving the words around is enough to make a hidden pattern stand out.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to step away from the literal meaning of a word. Connections often hides the answer in how a word is used rather than what it means by itself.
Final Thoughts
NYT Connections #1194 is a good example of how the game can turn familiar words into surprisingly tricky clues. The Hugh Jackman connection is particularly easy to miss if you’re looking at the words individually.
If “Wolverine” or “Prestige” sent you down the wrong path, don’t worry. That’s exactly the kind of misdirection Connections is designed to create.
A new puzzle arrives every day at midnight ET, so be sure to check back tomorrow for the next set of hints and answers.
For more daily puzzle guides, gaming news, tips, and updates, follow GamerUrge and keep the streak going.
