Connections archive · Puzzle #1187

NYT Connections Hints & Answers — September 10, 2026 (#1187)

Group hints and answers for the NYT Connections puzzle on . Get a spoiler-free nudge for each group, or reveal the full solution — your call.

Difficulty: Hard

Spoiler control

Choose how much to reveal

Reveal one step at a time — nudges first, full answers only if you ask.

1. Group nudges spoiler-free
  • Yellow: Periodic-table names — radioactive, noble, heavy, and yellow.
  • Green: Apartment exterior clutter — cool air, cats, laundry, blooms.
  • Blue: The Boss’s greatest hits — Jersey roads and runaway nights.
  • Purple: Longer phrases that end with words meaning current or present.
2. One word from each group a foothold
  • Yellow: ACTINIUM
  • Green: AIR CONDITIONER
  • Blue: ATLANTIC CITY
  • Purple: ADULT CONTEMPORARY
3. The four category names no words yet
  • Yellow: CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
  • Green: WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW
  • Blue: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS
  • Purple: ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW"
4. Reveal groups one by one
Yellow group

CHEMICAL ELEMENTS

  • ACTINIUM
  • KRYPTON
  • LEAD
  • SULFUR
Green group

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW

  • AIR CONDITIONER
  • CATIO
  • CLOTHESLINE
  • FLOWER BOX
Blue group

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS

  • ATLANTIC CITY
  • BADLANDS
  • BORN TO RUN
  • THUNDER ROAD
Purple group

ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW"

  • ADULT CONTEMPORARY
  • ALTERNATING CURRENT
  • REPRESENT
  • SEXTANT
5. Reveal everything full spoilers

Yellow — CHEMICAL ELEMENTS

  • ACTINIUM
  • KRYPTON
  • LEAD
  • SULFUR

Green — WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW

  • AIR CONDITIONER
  • CATIO
  • CLOTHESLINE
  • FLOWER BOX

Blue — BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS

  • ATLANTIC CITY
  • BADLANDS
  • BORN TO RUN
  • THUNDER ROAD

Purple — ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW"

  • ADULT CONTEMPORARY
  • ALTERNATING CURRENT
  • REPRESENT
  • SEXTANT

Today's puzzle, in a nutshell

Elements and Springsteen titles are the cleaner groups. Purple is the trap — CONTEMPORARY, CURRENT, PRESENT, and EXTANT all hide inside longer words as “happening now” synonyms.

NYT Connections #1187 — quick answers

What are today's Connections categories?

CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW; BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS; ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW".

What are all the answers?
  • CHEMICAL ELEMENTS: ACTINIUM, KRYPTON, LEAD, SULFUR
  • WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW: AIR CONDITIONER, CATIO, CLOTHESLINE, FLOWER BOX
  • BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS: ATLANTIC CITY, BADLANDS, BORN TO RUN, THUNDER ROAD
  • ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW": ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATING CURRENT, REPRESENT, SEXTANT

Also for: Connections hints 9/10/26, 9-10-26, 9 10 26, 9/10/2026, and puzzle #1187.

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