IT General

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 8, 2026 Purple meaning

A color that combines red and blue.

Stripes meaning

A combination of lines, frequently in a similar color or pattern of colors.

Skort meaning

A combo of shorts and a skirt.

Gloves meaning

Clothing designed to cover the hands.

Corvette meaning

A popular sports car made by Chrevrolet.

Artichoke meaning

A vegetable.

Doves marker meaning

A variety of different kinds of bids.

Marsh meaning

Terrain that tends to be wet and muddy.

Sacred meaning

Something hallowed.

Beret meaning

A particular kind of headwear.

Viper meaning

A kind of snake or a model of car made by Dodge.

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Twixt meaning

To be between.

Suspenders meaning

Something used to hold up trousers.

Firebird meaning

A type of muscle car.

Mustang meaning

A type of horse or muscle car.

Take to meaning

To grow fond of something.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like cars.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Vehicles

• Green: Clothing items

• Blue: Same second word

• Purple: Almost sweet

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Classic American performance cars

• Green: Features of a mime costume

• Blue: __ heart

• Purple: Candy bars plus a letter

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1185 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Classic American performance cars: CORVETTE, FIREBIRD, MUSTANG, VIPER

• Features of a mime costume: BERET, GLOVES, STRIPES, SUSPENDERS

• __ heart: ARTICHOKE, PURPLE, SACRED, TAKE TO

• Candy bars plus a letter: DOVES, MARSH, SKORT, TWIXT

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints involve a common shared experience.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's elementary!

The words are related to schooling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things found in educational settings.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Back to School.

NYT Strands word list for September 8

• Desk

• Markers

• Cubby

• Easel

• Globe

• Back to School

• Whiteboard

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you don't have good eyes.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 8, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 8, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To be more lively.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LIVEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

The programming world isn't just about Rust or TypeScript, and huge swaths of the economy rely on systems and technologies we rarely think about. These represent an opportunity, and dying languages that carry a lot of weight may offer the best of them. If niche technologies spark your interest, then this one's for you.

Have you ever noticed that the factory reset on any phone does only half the job? Yes, it’s true. So, I never immediately start downloading my apps or restoring everything from my backup once it boots up. Instead, I take a few minutes to go through the settings and make my phone feel like mine again. After all, a factory reset is supposed to give you a fresh phone; why bring back all the clutter and defaults you were trying to get rid of in the first place?

For many years, I built smart home automations that my family tolerated at best. It took a change of approach to finally create an automation that my family genuinely appreciated. That single automation ended up being a real turning point in how my family sees my smart home hobby.

Over four days, I walked the crowded Messe show floor to find the coolest innovations worth your attention.

Read more from Mashable’s tech coverage: The 5 best new tech products we've seen at IFA 2026
The FCC banned foreign routers, drones, robots: What it means for you

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction to IFA 2026 tech
0:27 iRobot Roomba 875
1:59 RGB-mini LED TV technology
2:49 Kodak Barbie camera
2:58 Primebot Q1 humanoid robot
4:10 Reolink OMVI 2I ultra security camera
5:10 DJI Osmo 360 II camera
6:03 Antigravity A1 drone
6:21 Dyson Camerajet toothbrush
7:13 Conclusion and wrap-up

Video credits
Host: Angela Moscaritolo
Scripted by: Angela Moscaritolo
Producer: Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez
Video editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail designer: Dillon Payne

Home From robot arms to bumper cars, I found the best home tech I'd put inside my smart home of the future

Read more about the latest tech from IFA 2026: The 5 best new tech products we've seen at IFA 2026
First look: Hypershell is launching the world's first full-leg exoskeleton at IFA 2026

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction: IFA smart home overview
0:30 Home theater
1:00 Smart lights
1:15 Home brewing machine
1:40 Xiaomi smart home
3:40 Pool cleaner & lawn mower
4:35 Bumper cars
4:45 Robotic arm
5:20 Smart litter box
5:45 Smart bird feeder
5:56 Power Solutions
6:17 Final thoughts

Video credits
Host: Andrew Lanxon
Scripted by: Andrew Lanxon
Producer: Dillon Lopez
Camera: Dillon Lopez
Video editor: Dillon Lopez
Thumbnail designer: Cole Kan

The most-watched movie on Paramount+ right now is the new Scary Movie, which critics have taken a baseball bat to. It may have a 24% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but folks keep pressing play on the Scream spoof, and honestly, I'm here for it because movie lovers can't go by critics alone.

The world's largest gun belongs to Longshot Space, which plans to go even bigger in the hopes of harnessing its technology to shoot satellites into space instead of using rockets.

Explore more space and science coverage: Roman telescope's data deluge will change who gets to do big astronomy
The Milky Way's center holds the ruins of another ancient galaxy

Timecode chapters
0:00 The problem with rocket launches
0:38 Longshot Space’s kinetic launch concept
1:30 How the giant space gun works
1:59 Testing the 6-inch prototype gun
3:14 Scaling up to the full-diameter version
3:42 The physics behind horizontal launches
4:33 Can satellites survive the high G-forces?
5:07 Future testing and next steps

Video credits
Host: Andy Altman
Scripted by: Andy Altman
Producer: Andy Altman
Camera: Celso Bulgatti
Video editor: Jon Gomez
Thumbnail designer: Cole Kan

If you want to stream every NFL game this regular season, this is all you need to know. From cable options to streamers, Wes Ott covers everything that will have you watching every NFL game. He's even got a few tips that might help you save. Are you ready for some football?

Read more about watching and streaming the NFL: How to watch out-of-market NFL games: Is NFL Sunday Ticket worth it?
How to watch every NFL game this season (and the cheapest ways to do so)
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Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
0:17 NFL streaming services
1:13 NFL streaming costs

Video credits
Host: Wes Ott
Producer: JD Christison & Jon Gomez
Camera: Owen Poole
Thumbnail designer: Cole Cook

AMD is shifting the paradigm from computers that just execute commands to Agentic AI that understands your goals. From the jaw-dropping Strix Halo and Gorgon Halo chips to running 125-billion parameter models locally on Windows, local compute is getting a massive upgrade. Plus, a special appearance from Microsoft's Pavan Davuluri to announce Project Zenith, and the ultimate reveal of the Threadripper Halo Station — a 96-core local supercomputer.

Read more about IFA 2026: The 5 best new tech products we've seen at IFA 2026
Lenovo takes the wraps off 2 new Nvidia RTX Spark laptops at IFA 2026

Timecode chapters
0:00 Introduction to IFA 2026 and the evolution of computing
0:25 The rise of personal AI and token processing growth
1:10 Shifting the architecture: local compute vs. cloud
1:51 Defining personal AI: local, private, and contextual
2:46 Strix Halo and Gorgon Halo: breaking the memory bottleneck
4:18 Lenovo ThinkCenter X powered by Gorgon Halo
4:45 A new class of laptops: code name “Sunday” (HP ZBook)
5:12 Real-time 3D world generation demo
6:11 Partnership with Microsoft: making AI more accessible
6:40 Windows as an open platform for secure agentic experiences
7:14 Introducing project zenith for developers
7:53 The Threadripper Halo station: a personal supercomputer
9:03 Closing remarks: The future of personal AI

Video credits
Producer and video editor: Vatsal Upadhyay
Thumbnail designer: Zain bin Awais

Most of you reading this probably use just one Google Chrome profile to do everything. So that means your banking, work, leisure, and all other activities happen using the same online identity.

Apple's rumored foldable iPhone could be here very soon, and there's a playbook already written for it. I've used a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold as my daily phone for three years, so I know exactly what makes a foldable worth it. Here's what Apple needs to nail: multitasking, screen software, desktop mode, durability, cameras and the price.

Read more about Apple's upcoming iPhones: What would really 'surprise' at Apple’s iPhone event
3 last-minute Apple iPhone 18 event rumors

Timecode chapters
0:00 Intro
1:00 Apple busts
2:00 My foldable
3:00 Samsung DEX
4:00 Apple upgrade
5:00 Durability
6:00 The foldable phone crease

Video credits
Hosted and scripted by: Iyaz Akhtar
Producer and camera: Carly Marsh
Video editor: Wes Ott
Thumbnail designer: Zooey Liao

VS Code is a big deal. In Stack Overflow’s 2025 Developer Survey, a whopping 76% of respondents said they use it regularly. That towers over the 29% who report using its nearest competitor, Visual Studio.

Google Keep is convenient, but convenience came with a cost many people would want to stop paying: my notes living in Google's cloud, tied to my account, scanned by whatever systems Google runs behind the scenes. Switching to Obsidian changed how I think about my own notes entirely.

I like to test out different music/media players on Linux every so often. I don't know how I missed out on Clementine. I've been using the Spotify desktop app on one of my machines for a little while as a media player. So, just for fun, I decided to pit them against one another in a bit of a "friendly competition." I was surprised to see which one I ended up liking better.

NFC tags can be incredibly useful smart home tools. They're cheap to buy, and you can use them to trigger automations just by scanning them with a phone. Not all NFC tags are created equal, and it's all too easy to buy the wrong NFC tags for the job.

South Park celebrated its Emmy win with a public dig at Donald Trump.

Following the series' win for Outstanding Animated Program at the 2026 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sunday, the official South Park X account posted a jubilant message, congratulating creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and their team.

However, the message was accompanied by an image, showing a photo of the president's face attached to a cartoon body with his pants down, holding an Emmy. He's surrounded by South Park characters including Cartman, Kyle, Stan, Kenny, Mr. Garrison, PC Principal, Jesus Christ, and Satan.

"You finally got your Emmy," the image proclaims.

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South Park's dig at the president is a one-two punch. Trump has been nominated for two Emmys — in 2005 and 2004 as executive producer of Outstanding Reality-Competition Program nominee The Apprentice — but has not won an award. South Park has now won six Emmys, with 21 nominations and Stone and Parker inducted into the 28th Television Academy Hall of Fame earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: 'South Park' closes Season 28 with a horrifying Jeffrey Epstein twist

However, the bigger upset to the president could be that South Park won this year's Emmy after a particularly anti-Trump Season 27, the premiere of which was the show's biggest in years. And it was this controversial opening episode, "Sermon On The 'Mount," which won the show its 2026 Emmy.

The episode was slammed by the White House for its depiction of Trump, portrayed in bed with Satan and later stumbling through the desert naked and revealing a talking micropenis in a deepfake PSA sequence. The episode also makes references to the Trump's urging for people to move on from the so-called "Epstein list".

When Parker and Stone were asked about the episode at San Diego’s Comic-Con International in July, they responded, "We’re terribly sorry," staring out to the audience.

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And it wasn't the only anti-Trump moment of Season 27 (or 28 for that matter), with multiple episodes dedicated to lampooning the president and his administration.

Trump or the White House has not responded to South Park's Emmy win or the X post as of this publication.

South Park Season 29, meanwhile, is set to premiere Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. ET on Comedy Central, before streaming on Paramount+.

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