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 and the full grouping.

Puzzle date: September 11, 2026 (2026-09-11) · #1188 · Source: the game's public daily data (https://www.nytimes.com/svc/connections/v2/2026-09-11.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:

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

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