NYT Connections Puzzle – Hints & Answers for Sept 7, 2026

If you’ve already tried today’s NYT Connections (the one that dropped on September 7, 2026) and are stuck, you’re in the right place. I’ve pulled together the four clues the newspaper gave, walked through the answers, and even tossed in a quick look at some of the trickier puzzles that have popped up before.

Hint rundown (from easiest to the head‑scratchers)

• Yellow group: “Not sure I believe you.”
• Green group: “Think Maidenform.”
• Blue group: “Balsam or Fraser.”
• Purple group: “Aurora borealis would be another one.”

Okay, let’s unpack what each of those means.

Yellow group – “Quite the saga.” The four words all describe tall, exaggerated stories. They are fabrication, fish story, tall tale and yarn. Each fits the “I don’t believe you” vibe perfectly.

Green group – “Parts of a bra.” This one is literally about bra components. The answers are cup, hook, strap and underwire. No surprise there – think of the classic Maidenform advertisements.

Blue group – “Associated with pine trees.” Here the connection is a little woodsy. We get car air freshener (those pine‑scented ones you hang in the dashboard), Christmas (ever‑green décor), needles (the foliage), and turpentine (the resin you get from pines).

Purple group – “Starting with Disney characters.” This was the trickiest, but also the most fun. Each answer begins with the name of a Disney figure: plutonium (Pluto), scar tissue (Scar), stitch marker (Stitch) and trampoline (Tramp).

For those of you who love a good challenge, CNET keeps a running list of the hardest Connections puzzles ever posted. A few stand‑outs include “things you can set” (mood, record, table, volleyball), “one in a dozen” (egg, juror, month, rose), and “streets on screen” (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame). If you’ve ever felt stuck, glance at that list – it might help you spot the pattern faster next time.

Finally, a quick shout‑out to the puzzle’s curator, Gael Fashingbauer Cooper. She’s been digging into pop‑culture quirks for decades and even co‑authored a book about ’70s and ’80s toys. When she isn’t writing about Connections, you might find her hunting down a nostalgic candy bar.