You know that feeling. It’s early. You’ve got your coffee, the sun is barely peaking through the blinds, and you’re staring at sixteen little words that seem to have absolutely nothing in common. You tap a couple. They shake. Wrong. You try again, thinking you’ve spotted a clever synonym for "fast." Wrong again. Suddenly, you’re down to two mistakes, and the pressure is actually kind of intense for a Tuesday morning. If you are looking for NYT Connections hints September 16, you aren't alone; today’s grid is one of those classic "Wyna Liu" specials where the red herrings are everywhere.
Connections is a game of lateral thinking. It isn't just about what words mean; it’s about how they function in the world. Sometimes a word is a noun, but in the context of the purple category, it’s actually a prefix. Other times, the game relies on pop culture knowledge that feels like it’s right on the tip of your tongue but won't quite surface.
Let's look at the board today. Honestly, at first glance, it feels like a mess of random objects and actions. But there is a logic here. You just have to find the thread.
The big traps in the NYT Connections hints September 16 board
The New York Times loves to throw in "crossover" words. These are the words that belong to two or three potential categories, forcing you to use the process of elimination. Today, keep an eye out for words that describe movement. You might see a few things that seem like they belong in a "gym" or "exercise" category. Don't fall for it immediately. Look at the other words first. If you see three words that fit a "workout" theme but a fourth one that feels a bit "off," it’s probably a red herring.
Another thing to watch for is the "parts of a whole" trap. Sometimes words describe items that you’d find in a specific room, like a kitchen or a garage. But the NYT editors are usually more specific than that. They won't just do "Kitchen Items." They’ll do "Things that have a lid" or "Items with a blade."
Hints by color: From Yellow to Purple
If you just want a nudge in the right direction without the full spoiler, here is the breakdown of what you should be looking for today.
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The Yellow Category (Easiest)
This one is usually pretty straightforward. Think about sounds. Not just any sounds, but the specific noises things make when they break or collide. If you see words that you’d find in an old Batman comic bubble—Thwack! Bam!—you are on the right track.
The Green Category (Medium)
This group is all about variety. Or, more specifically, a "collection" of things. If you were looking at a list of options or a range of different items, what words would you use to describe that spread? Look for words that mean "an assortment."
The Blue Category (Hard)
This one is tricky because it involves body parts. But here is the catch: they aren't functioning as body parts. They are functioning as verbs. Think about what you do with your "Shoulder" or your "Elbow" in a crowded room. You aren't just having them; you are using them to move through space.
The Purple Category (Tricky/Abstract)
Purple is the wildcard. Today, it’s about a common word that follows another word. This is a classic Connections trope. Think about a specific type of "Bread" or a specific type of "Light." If you find three words that don't seem to fit anywhere else, try adding a common noun to the end of them and see if it makes sense.
Breaking down the September 16 solution
Okay, if you are still stuck and your streak is on the line, let's get into the actual answers. Sometimes you just need to see the logic to clear the rest of the board.
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The Yellow Category: Impact Sounds
The words here are CLINK, CLANK, CLUNK, and CLATTER.
Basically, these are all onomatopoeias for metal or hard objects hitting each other. It’s a very cohesive set. If you found "Clink" and "Clank," the other two usually fall into place. This is the "easy" group, though if you're overthinking it, you might try to group them with "noises" in general.
The Green Category: A Wide Array
The words are SORTS, TYPES, KINDS, and VARIETIES.
This is a "synonym" category. It’s the bread and butter of Connections. They are all plural, which is a big hint. If you see four words that all mean "categories of things," you've found your green group.
The Blue Category: To Push or Jostle
The words are ELBOW, KNEE, SHOULDER, and POKE.
This is where people usually get tripped up. You see "Elbow," "Knee," and "Shoulder" and you immediately think "Body Parts." Then you look for a fourth body part and it isn't there. That’s because these are verbs. You "elbow" someone out of the way, you "shoulder" a burden, you "poke" someone. It’s about physical interaction.
The Purple Category: _____ Cake
The words are BEEF, CRAB, FRUIT, and POUND.
See? This is what I meant by a word following another word. Beefcake, Crab cake, Fruitcake, Pound cake. It’s a classic lateral thinking puzzle. "Beef" and "Fruit" have almost nothing in common until you put "cake" behind them.
Why Connections is harder than Wordle
A lot of people think Connections is just a harder version of Wordle, but they are actually different beasts. Wordle is about linguistics and letter frequency. It’s mathematical. Connections is about cultural literacy and the "vibe" of words.
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According to various puzzle experts, the difficulty of Connections stems from the "misleading overlap." In a 2023 interview, NYT puzzle editor Wyna Liu mentioned that the goal is to find words that could fit into multiple categories. This is called "interference." Your brain sees "Beef" and "Pound" and might think of weight or meat, but the game wants you to look past the primary definition.
Strategies for tomorrow's puzzle
If today’s NYT Connections hints September 16 helped you, keep these general rules in mind for the future.
- Don't submit your first guess. Even if you see four words that fit perfectly, look at the remaining twelve words. Do any of them also fit that category? If so, you haven't found the "true" group yet.
- Look for "hidden" words. Sometimes the category is "Words that start with a Greek letter" or "Words that contain a color."
- Say the words out loud. Sometimes the connection is phonetic. A word might look like one thing but sound like another (like "Lead" the metal vs. "Lead" the verb).
- Use the Shuffle button. It sounds simple, but your brain often gets stuck on the visual placement of the words. Shuffling the grid can break those false associations and help you see a new pattern.
Actionable steps for your daily puzzle routine
To get better at Connections, you need to broaden how you categorize information.
- Practice the "Blank ____" test. When you see a word, quickly run through common phrases. If you see "Fire," think "Firehouse, Firefly, Fireplace."
- Identify the "Purple" word early. Usually, there is one word on the board that is just weird. "Aglet" or "Pound" or "Bespoke." If a word feels out of place, it’s likely part of the Purple category. Focus on finding what could possibly link to that weird word.
- Check the pluralization. If three words are plural and one is singular, the singular one might be a red herring, or it might be part of a category where the pluralization changes the meaning (like "Content" vs "Contents").
The most important thing is to take your time. You only get four mistakes. If you’re down to your last one, walk away for an hour. Coming back with fresh eyes is often the only way to see the connection that was staring you in the face the whole time.
By understanding that the game is designed to trick you, you can start to anticipate the editor's moves. Look for the verbs hidden as nouns, the parts of compound words, and the synonyms that are just a little too obvious.
Next Steps for Players:
Open your Notes app or a physical journal and jot down the categories you missed today. Most players struggle with the same "types" of categories repeatedly. If "_____ Cake" got you today, you'll be more likely to spot "_____ Pepper" or "_____ Ball" in the future. Analyzing your errors is the fastest way to improve your solve rate.