Connections Hints
Monday, September 18, 2023
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — September 18, 2023
Jump to a hint level
Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
← Back to hint toolLoad any date with the interactive hint ladder
Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
ALASKA
BRIGHT
CLEVER
COWBOY
DRIFTER
FRONTIER
LASSO
MARS
OUTLAW
QUICK
ROGERS
SHARP
SHERIFF
SMART
SOUTHWEST
SPIRIT
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
INTELLIGENTStraightforward
AIRLINESModerate
WESTERN TROPESTricky
TV SHOW TITLE SURNAMESDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
INTELLIGENTStraightforward
SYNONYMS FOR MENTALLY SHARP OR BRAINY+ 3 more…
AIRLINESModerate
YOU MIGHT BOARD ONE OF THESE AT AN AIRPORT+ 3 more…
WESTERN TROPESTricky
CHARACTERS AND ARCHETYPES YOU'D FIND IN A WESTERN FILM+ 3 more…
TV SHOW TITLE SURNAMESDevious
LAST NAMES THAT COMPLETE FAMOUS TV SHOW TITLES+ 3 more…
Full solution
INTELLIGENTStraightforward
BRIGHT,CLEVER,QUICK,SHARP
BRIGHT, CLEVER, QUICK, and SHARP are all adjectives meaning intelligent or mentally acute.
AIRLINESModerate
ALASKA,FRONTIER,SOUTHWEST,SPIRIT
ALASKA, FRONTIER, SOUTHWEST, and SPIRIT are all names of U.S. airlines.
WESTERN TROPESTricky
COWBOY,DRIFTER,OUTLAW,SHERIFF
COWBOY, DRIFTER, OUTLAW, and SHERIFF are classic tropes and character types from Western movies and stories.
TV SHOW TITLE SURNAMESDevious
LASSO,MARS,ROGERS,SMART
LASSO (Ted), MARS (Veronica), ROGERS (Mr.), and SMART (Maxwell/Get Smart) are all surnames in TV show titles: Ted Lasso, Veronica Mars, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, and Get Smart.