Here are progressive hints for the September 10, 2026, NYT Connections puzzle. Try the clues before scrolling to the four answer groups below.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four that share a connection. The hints below move from broad clues to more revealing ones.
- Periodic table.
- Spotted on a house.
- The Boss.
- Look at the end of each word or phrase.
Spoilers: The answers follow.
Connections answers for 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
The hint “The Boss” points to Bruce Springsteen; the group’s category label is “Bruce Springsteen classics.”
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#1 Best Overall
- The game where _______ minds think alike!
- Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting predictions! How well can you put your finger on what everyone's thinking?
- Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the phrase, and try to match it to anther player's word without giving a single hint
- Easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for the whole family; just grab a slate, write a word, and get ready to make a match. Great for large groups or small gatherings!
- Includes: Scoreboard, 8 dry-erase slates, 250 doubled-sided word cue cards, rules
About this puzzle’s number
The dated archive at Connections+ and Parade’s September 10 guide identify the same board and answers. A separate dated page at NYT Game Solver labels that board with a different puzzle number. Because the number is inconsistent across these sources, this guide identifies the puzzle by date rather than number.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- UNIQUE COOPERATIVE WORD GAME: Write one clue connecting two keywords on each clover leaf. Teammates guess which keyword pair each clue links in this inventive, laugh-out-loud word association game
- CREATIVE PARTY GAME FOR ADULTS: So Clover! challenges players to make unexpected word connections. The more creative your clues, the higher your team scores in this hilarious adult party game
- GREAT FOR WORD GAME FANS: So Clover! takes cooperative word games to the next level with a unique multi-clue clover structure that delivers fresh, surprising, and satisfying creative connections
- FAST, FUN & SOCIAL: Plays in under 30 minutes with 3-6 players ages 10 and up. So Clover! is quick to setup, with no filler, just pure creative energy and highly collaborative family fun from the very first round
- IDEAL GIFT FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: So Clover! is the party game gift for anyone who loves wordplay and creative thinking. Easy to teach in minutes, endlessly engaging at any family game night
Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
- Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to link multiple cards, encouraging creative thinking
- Teammates guess words matching the clue while avoiding the other team’s agents, bystanders, and the assassin
- Revealing the assassin ends the game instantly, adding high-stakes tension
- Teams may guess up to the clue number plus one, allowing strategic risks or revisiting old clues
Rank #2
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Elevate the fun with this game, where players strategically choose word combinations, making it perfect for party games for adults and family, enhancing both depth and complexity.
- MULTIPLAYER FUN: Engage in multiplayer entertainment with Subtext Showdown, perfect for game nights with 3 to 6 participants, promoting communication and creative thinking in the realm of adult games for game night.
- POINTS OF PRECISION: Accumulate points by adeptly deducing associations or demonstrating telepathic synchronicity, ensuring a gratifying experience for effective communication and intuitive connections in adult board games.
- RACE AGAINST TIME: With a ticking clock, players must think quickly and make their associations before time runs out, adding an exciting element of urgency to the game.
- EXCITING PERFECT GIFT: Combine phrases from the 16 cards to form associations that friends can decode, providing an exhilarating challenge in teen-friendly card games, perfect gift for any occasion.
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