NYT Connections Hints for September 8, 2026 — Puzzle #1185

Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.

Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1185 on September 8, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words and the full grouping.

Puzzle date: September 8, 2026 (2026-09-08) · #1185 · Source: the game's public daily data (https://www.nytimes.com/svc/connections/v2/2026-09-08.json). Hints are derived from that day's verified answer data — no invented clues, difficulty scores or word claims.

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:

C _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _
F _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O _ A M _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _
H _ _ _ _
C _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ P _ _ _ A L _ _ _ _ _

3. Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1

CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS

Show theme 2

FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME

Show theme 3

___ HEART

Show theme 4

CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER

NYT Connections answer for September 8, 2026 — puzzle #1185

CLASSIC AMERICAN PERFORMANCE CARS

CORVETTE, VIPER, MUSTANG, FIREBIRD

FEATURES OF A MIME COSTUME

STRIPES, GLOVES, BERET, SUSPENDERS

___ HEART

PURPLE, ARTICHOKE, SACRED, TAKE TO

CANDY BARS PLUS A LETTER

SKORT, DOVES, MARSH, TWIXT

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