NYT Connections Answer

September 17, 2026

🧩 Today's Puzzle

SPRING
SUBWAY STATION
PRESTIGE
TRIANGLE
TAP
GIVE
LANGUAGE
FOUNTAIN
WELL
BOUNCE
SEWER LINE
HANDLES
SHEEP DETECTIVES
MINE SHAFT
FLEXIBILITY
WOLVERINE

✅ NytConnections Solution

ELASTICITY
BOUNCE, FLEXIBILITY, GIVE, SPRING
THINGS THAT ARE UNDERGROUND
MINE SHAFT, SEWER LINE, SUBWAY STATION, WELL
HUGH JACKMAN MOVIES, WITH "THE"
FOUNTAIN, PRESTIGE, SHEEP DETECTIVES, WOLVERINE
LOVE ___
HANDLES, LANGUAGE, TAP, TRIANGLE

Welcome back, puzzle lovers! If you’ve just opened your NYT Connections grid for September 17, 2026, and found yourself staring at a mix of subterranean structures and Hugh Jackman trivia, you aren’t alone. Today’s puzzle is a delightful mix of physical properties and pop culture references.

Whether you're looking for a small NYT Connections hint to get you over the hump or the full answer for 2026-09-17, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into today’s groupings!

What is the Strategy for Today?

Today’s grid is moderately tricky. We have some very literal physical descriptions, some location-based nouns, and a few "fill-in-the-blank" style clues that always keep us on our toes. My advice? Look for the longest phrases first (like "Subway Station" or "Sheep Detectives") to see if they share a common theme before tackling the shorter, more versatile words.

Hints and Answers by Category

Yellow: Elasticity

These words all describe the physical property of something that can stretch, bend, or snap back into place.

  • Hint: Think about what happens when you pull on a rubber band or jump on a trampoline.
  • The Category: ELASTICITY
  • The Words: BOUNCE, FLEXIBILITY, GIVE, SPRING

Why they fit: These are synonyms or attributes related to being "stretchy" or having "give." If a material has "give," it isn't rigid; if it has "bounce" or "spring," it returns to its original shape.

Green: Things That Are Underground

These four items share a common location: deep beneath the earth's surface.

  • Hint: You would need to travel downward—and likely use a flashlight—to find any of these.
  • The Category: THINGS THAT ARE UNDERGROUND
  • The Words: MINE SHAFT, SEWER LINE, SUBWAY STATION, WELL

Why they fit: All four are man-made structures built specifically to function below ground level, whether for transport, resource extraction, or utilities.

Blue: Hugh Jackman Movies, With "The"

This category is a treat for the cinephiles. These words all form the titles of famous movies starring the versatile Hugh Jackman.

  • Hint: Every one of these words or phrases needs the word "The" in front of it to complete the movie title.
  • The Category: HUGH JACKMAN MOVIES, WITH "THE"
  • The Words: FOUNTAIN, PRESTIGE, SHEEP DETECTIVES, WOLVERINE

Why they fit: The Fountain, The Prestige, and The Wolverine are classics. The Sheep Detectives is a slightly more obscure project (released closer to the 2026 puzzle date!), making this a fun test of your movie knowledge.

Purple: Love ___

The hardest category today is a "word that follows" group. Each of these words makes sense when preceded by the word "Love."

  • Hint: What do you call those stubborn bits of fat on your sides, or a gentle, playful hit?
  • The Category: LOVE ___
  • The Words: HANDLES, LANGUAGE, TAP, TRIANGLE

Why they fit: This is a classic Connections "Purple" category. We have "Love Handles" (anatomy), "Love Language" (relationships), "Love Tap" (a light blow), and "Love Triangle" (a dramatic trope).

Final Thoughts on the Answer for 2026-09-17

Today's puzzle was a balanced mix. The "Underground" category (Green) felt the most intuitive, while the Hugh Jackman movies (Blue) might have tripped up those who aren't into film. The trickiest part was definitely realizing "GIVE" belonged to the Elasticity group rather than being a verb for a gift.

How did you do? Did you find the NYT Connections hint helpful, or did you solve it all on your own?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play NYT Connections?

In Connections, you are presented with 16 words and must group them into four sets of four. Each set shares a common theme. You have four lives, and each incorrect guess costs you one life.

What do the colors mean in Connections?

The colors represent the difficulty level:

  • Yellow: The most straightforward/easy.
  • Green: Common knowledge, slightly trickier.
  • Blue: Often involves pop culture or specific trivia.
  • Purple: The most abstract, often involving wordplay or "fill-in-the-blank" clues.

When does the NYT Connections reset?

The game resets daily at midnight in your local time zone, allowing you to tackle a fresh puzzle every morning!

Can I play past NYT Connections puzzles?

While the official NYT app primarily features the daily puzzle, there are several fan-made archives online where you can play previous grids if you missed a day.