Play Connections #1185
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1185 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Think of muscular rides from Detroit's golden age of horsepower.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Picture a silent street performer in whiteface; these are parts of the look.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Fill in the blank with the organ that pumps blood in your chest.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Drop the last letter from each and you'll find a snack from the checkout aisle.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several clothing items appear in one group, but one of them belongs elsewhere, and a few animal names are scattered around to lure you into a false category.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS
- FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME
- ___ HEART
- CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER
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Difficulty: Hard. One category hides its theme behind odd-looking words that need a letter removed, and another relies on a phrase that doesn't look like it belongs.
Connections #1185 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 8, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
CORVETTE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS.
Show all four words
CORVETTE, FIREBIRD, MUSTANG, VIPER
Show one word
BERET is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME.
Show all four words
BERET, GLOVES, STRIPES, SUSPENDERS
Show one word
ARTICHOKE is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ___ HEART.
Show all four words
ARTICHOKE, PURPLE, SACRED, TAKE TO
Show one word
DOVES is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER.
Show all four words
DOVES, MARSH, SKORT, TWIXT
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CORVETTE: Chevrolet's iconic American sports car.
- FIREBIRD: Pontiac's muscle car, famous as the Trans Am.
- MUSTANG: Ford's pony car, a performance icon.
- VIPER: Dodge's powerful American sports car.
- BERET: French-style hat typically worn by mimes.
- GLOVES: White gloves are a classic mime accessory.
- STRIPES: Striped shirt is the signature mime top.
- SUSPENDERS: Mimes often wear them holding up their pants.
- ARTICHOKE: The edible center of the plant is its heart.
- PURPLE: Military medal awarded to wounded soldiers.
- SACRED: Religious image of Jesus's devotion.
- TAKE TO: Phrase meaning to adopt or grow fond of something.
Purple group explained
- DOVES: Dove chocolate bar plus S.
- MARSH: Mars bar plus H.
- SKORT: Skor bar plus T.
- TWIXT: Twix bar plus T.
What does SKORT mean?
A piece of clothing that looks like a skirt from the front but has shorts sewn in underneath, often worn for tennis, golf or casual wear. In the puzzle it is the Skor candy bar plus T.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 7 | #1184 | STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS |
| Sep 6 | #1183 | ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE |
| Sep 5 | #1182 | DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER |
| Sep 4 | #1181 | ACCESSORIES INSIDE STARTING AND ENDING LETTERS |
| Sep 3 | #1180 | SPREADSHEET FUNCTIONS |
| Sep 2 | #1179 | ___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS) |
| Sep 1 | #1178 | STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Sep 8
Connections #1185 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 8, 2026?
CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS: CORVETTE, FIREBIRD, MUSTANG, VIPER. FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME: BERET, GLOVES, STRIPES, SUSPENDERS. ___ HEART: ARTICHOKE, PURPLE, SACRED, TAKE TO. CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER: DOVES, MARSH, SKORT, TWIXT.
What was the purple group in Connections #1185?
CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER: DOVES, MARSH, SKORT, TWIXT.
What made Connections #1185 tricky?
Several clothing items appear in one group, but one of them belongs elsewhere, and a few animal names are scattered around to lure you into a false category.