NYT Connections Hints for September 11, 2026 — Puzzle #1188
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1188 on September 11, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words — the full solution stays hidden until you reveal it.
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:
P _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ F _ _ A _ E _ _ _ _I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ T _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _T _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ A _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT
Show theme 2
INTERNALIZE
Show theme 3
WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE
Show theme 4
THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY
NYT Connections answer for September 11, 2026 — puzzle #1188
PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENT
PLANNER, BAND, PHOTOGRAPHER, FLORIST
INTERNALIZE
PROCESS, DIGEST, ABSORB, TAKE IN
WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE
JOURNAL, EXERCISE, UNPLUG, MEDITATE
THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY
LUCK, ENVELOPE, AGENDA, LIMITS
Frequently asked questions
The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:P _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ _ F _ _ A _ E _ _ _ _I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _W _ _ _ T _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _T _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ A _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1PEOPLE HIRED FOR AN EVENTShow theme 2INTERNALIZEShow theme 3WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CAREShow theme 4THINGS THAT ARE PUSHED METAPHORICALLY
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
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