NYT Connections Hints for September 9, 2026 — Puzzle #1186
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1186 on September 9, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words — the full solution stays hidden until you reveal it.
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:
H _ _ _ T _ U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _H _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
Show theme 2
WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXES
Show theme 3
HORROR MOVIES
Show theme 4
WORDS BEFORE "FORCE"
NYT Connections answer for September 9, 2026 — puzzle #1186
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
INCOMPREHENSIBLE, BEWILDERING, ESOTERIC, OPAQUE
WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXES
NANOTECHNOLOGY, MICROBREWERY, PICOSECOND, MINIVAN
HORROR MOVIES
ARACHNOPHOBIA, HALLOWEEN, SAW, IT
WORDS BEFORE "FORCE"
ELECTROMAGNETIC, BRUTE, TASK, G
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:H _ _ _ T _ U _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _H _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1HARD TO UNDERSTANDShow theme 2WORDS WITH "SMALL" PREFIXESShow theme 3HORROR MOVIESShow theme 4WORDS BEFORE "FORCE"
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