Play Connections #1187
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 #1187 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
Chemistry students would find all of these on a famous wall chart.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Picture the outside of an apartment or house and what pokes out from an open sash.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are songs and albums from a famous rock singer from New Jersey.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Check how each entry ends, since the last part means up-to-date or in existence.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several entries across different groups share the same two initials, which tempts you to link them by abbreviation.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- CHEMICAL ELEMENTS
- WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW
- BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS
- ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW"
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Difficulty: Hard. The last group depends on spotting word endings, including one hidden inside a longer word, while some entries could fit more than one category.
Connections #1187 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 10, 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
ACTINIUM is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CHEMICAL ELEMENTS.
Show all four words
ACTINIUM, KRYPTON, LEAD, SULFUR
Show one word
AIR CONDITIONER is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE STICKING OUT OF A WINDOW.
Show all four words
AIR CONDITIONER, CATIO, CLOTHESLINE, FLOWER BOX
Show one word
ATLANTIC CITY is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN CLASSICS.
Show all four words
ATLANTIC CITY, BADLANDS, BORN TO RUN, THUNDER ROAD
Show one word
ADULT CONTEMPORARY is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW".
Show all four words
ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATING CURRENT, REPRESENT, SEXTANT
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- ACTINIUM: Radioactive element number 89 on the periodic table.
- KRYPTON: Noble gas, element 36.
- LEAD: Heavy metal element with symbol Pb.
- SULFUR: Yellow nonmetal element with symbol S.
- AIR CONDITIONER: Window unit with its back end hanging outside.
- CATIO: Enclosed outdoor cat patio, often extending from a window.
- CLOTHESLINE: Laundry line strung out from a window.
- FLOWER BOX: Planter mounted on the outside sill.
- ATLANTIC CITY: Song from the 1982 album Nebraska.
- BADLANDS: Hard-driving song and album opener from 1978's Darkness on the Edge of Town.
- BORN TO RUN: Title track of his 1975 breakthrough album.
- THUNDER ROAD: Opening song of the Born to Run album.
Purple group explained
- ADULT CONTEMPORARY: Ends in 'contemporary,' meaning of the present time.
- ALTERNATING CURRENT: Ends in 'current,' meaning happening now.
- REPRESENT: Ends in 'present,' meaning here and now.
- SEXTANT: Ends in 'extant,' meaning still existing.
What does CATIO mean?
A enclosed outdoor patio or porch built for pet cats, usually with mesh or screening, so they can enjoy fresh air safely. In the puzzle, it is something that can extend from a window.
What does ACTINIUM mean?
A rare, radioactive metallic element with atomic number 89, found in tiny amounts in uranium ores. It glows faintly blue in the dark and is the first of the actinide series.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 9 | #1186 | WORDS BEFORE "FORCE" |
| Sep 8 | #1185 | CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER |
| 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 |
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 10
Connections #1187 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 10, 2026?
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.
What was the purple group in Connections #1187?
ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "HAPPENING NOW": ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATING CURRENT, REPRESENT, SEXTANT.
What made Connections #1187 tricky?
Several entries across different groups share the same two initials, which tempts you to link them by abbreviation.