Connections Hints
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — September 2, 2026
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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
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Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BOW
CORN
DAZZLE
FLOOR
HUNTING
MUTE
PRAIRIE
RESCUE
ROSIN
SALTY
SAUSAGE
SHEEP
SHOULDER REST
STUN
TOP
WOW
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
FLABBERGASTStraightforward
THINGS IN A VIOLIN CASEModerate
___ DOGS (THAT ARE DOGS)Tricky
___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS)Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
FLABBERGASTStraightforward
WORDS THAT MEAN TO OVERWHELM SOMEONE WITH AMAZEMENT+ 3 more…
THINGS IN A VIOLIN CASEModerate
ACCESSORIES AND TOOLS A STRING PLAYER KEEPS ALONGSIDE THEIR INSTRUMENT+ 3 more…
___ DOGS (THAT ARE DOGS)Tricky
THESE ___ DOGS ARE ACTUAL CANINE BREEDS OR TYPES+ 3 more…
___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS)Devious
THESE ___ DOGS ARE DEFINITELY NOT CANINES+ 3 more…
Full solution
FLABBERGASTStraightforward
DAZZLE,FLOOR,STUN,WOW
DAZZLE, FLOOR, STUN, and WOW are all synonyms for FLABBERGAST, meaning to astonish or amaze someone completely
THINGS IN A VIOLIN CASEModerate
BOW,MUTE,ROSIN,SHOULDER REST
BOW, MUTE, ROSIN, and SHOULDER REST are all items commonly stored inside a violin case alongside the instrument
___ DOGS (THAT ARE DOGS)Tricky
HUNTING,RESCUE,SAUSAGE,SHEEP
HUNTING dogs, RESCUE dogs, SAUSAGE dogs, and SHEEP dogs are all real types or informal names for dogs
___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS)Devious
CORN,PRAIRIE,SALTY,TOP
CORN dog (fried food), PRAIRIE dog (rodent), SALTY dog (cocktail), and TOP dog (idiom for leader) all use 'dog' but refer to something entirely non-canine