The Forbes Connections hint today for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, helps you solve NYT Connections puzzle #1,193 without ruining the fun. This guide gives four spoiler-light hints first. Full answers come later, behind a clear warning.
If you searched for the Forbes Connections hint today, you may want a small nudge or the complete solution. This article covers both. Every group was checked against Forbes’ daily column by Kris Holt and Parade’s coverage of the same puzzle.
What Is the Forbes Connections Hint Today?
The phrase usually means Forbes’ daily coverage of the New York Times Connections puzzle. Forbes writer Kris Holt publishes a hints-and-answers column each day. A separate answers-explained column breaks down each group and points out red herrings.
Readers use this coverage in three ways:
- Hints: gentle clues that point to each category without naming it.
- Categories: the theme behind each group of four words.
- Answers: the full list of words in every group.
You can stop at any level. Start with hints, and move to answers only when you need them.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily word game from The New York Times. The board shows 16 words. Your goal is to sort them into four groups of four, and each group shares one theme.
Themes vary. Some use meaning, such as synonyms. Others use spelling, hidden words, names, or pop culture. You can make four mistakes before the game ends, and a new puzzle arrives each day.
The Four Connections Colors
Each group has a color. The color shows how hard the theme is, from easiest to hardest.
| Color | Difficulty | Typical theme |
| Yellow | Easiest | A direct, straightforward link |
| Green | Easy to moderate | A clear link with a small twist |
| Blue | Moderate to hard | Trivia or a less obvious link |
| Purple | Hardest | Wordplay, hidden words, or letter tricks |
Colors are a guide only. You can solve the groups in any order.
Forbes NYT Connections Hint Today: September 16, 2026
Today’s puzzle is #1,193. The hints below stay spoiler-light. Read one at a time, and stop when you have enough help.
Yellow Hint
Think about the periodic table. Look closely at how each word ends, not how it begins.
Green Hint
Think of spare change. These words begin with something you could find in a pocket.
Blue Hint
Think of writers of verse. Each answer sits in the middle of a full name.
Purple Hint
Think of food. A familiar food is hidden in each answer, but every spelling has one extra letter.
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Today’s Connections Words
The board has 16 words. They are listed here in alphabetical order, not in the order shown in the game.
| Words (A to L) | Words (M to W) |
| BARRETT | MARIGOLD |
| BORAT | NICKELODEON |
| CARLOS | PENNYWISE |
| CLINK | QUARTERBACK |
| DIMENSION | ST. VINCENT |
| FRANK-N-FURTER | STEAM IRON |
| LATIN | WADSWORTH |
| LONG JOHN SILVER | WIDENER |
Notice the unusual formats: a period in ST. VINCENT, hyphens in FRANK-N-FURTER, and a three-word name. Formats like these often point to wordplay.
How to Use Forbes Connections Hints Without Spoiling the Puzzle
A step-by-step method keeps the solve satisfying. Use hints as a last tool, not the first.
Step 1: Look at All 16 Words
Read the full board once before you click anything. Note names, long words, and odd punctuation. Unusual formatting is often a clue.
Step 2: Search for Obvious Relationships
Ask simple questions. Do any words share a beginning or an ending? Do any share a meaning or a setting? Write down every pair you find.
Step 3: Find Four Strong Candidates
Do not guess until four words clearly fit one idea. If five words fit, one of them belongs elsewhere. That is your first sign of a trap.
Step 4: Check for Red Herrings
A red herring is a word that seems to belong to a group but does not. Today, several words look like names or characters. Test each guess against every other group before you submit.
Step 5: Use One Forbes Hint
Pick the color you find hardest and read only that hint. Then return to the board. Read a second hint only after you have tried again.
Today’s Forbes Connections Answers
Spoiler warning: this section reveals the full September 16, 2026 solution.
| Color | Category | Words |
| Yellow | Ending in metal elements | LATIN, LONG JOHN SILVER, MARIGOLD, STEAM IRON |
| Green | Starting with U.S. coins | DIMENSION, NICKELODEON, PENNYWISE, QUARTERBACK |
| Blue | Poets’ middle names | BARRETT, CARLOS, ST. VINCENT, WADSWORTH |
| Purple | Sausages plus a letter | BORAT, CLINK, FRANK-N-FURTER, WIDENER |
Ending in Metal Elements
This is the yellow group. Each word ends with the name of a metal.
- LATIN: ends in tin
- LONG JOHN SILVER: ends in silver
- MARIGOLD: ends in gold
- STEAM IRON: ends in iron
Starting With U.S. Coins
This is the green group. Each word begins with the name of a coin.
- DIMENSION: starts with dime
- NICKELODEON: starts with nickel
- PENNYWISE: starts with penny
- QUARTERBACK: starts with quarter
Poets’ Middle Names
This is the blue group. Each word is the middle name of a well-known poet.
- BARRETT: Elizabeth Barrett Browning
- CARLOS: William Carlos Williams
- ST. VINCENT: Edna St. Vincent Millay
- WADSWORTH: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Sausages Plus a Letter
This is the purple group. Each word is a sausage with one extra letter. Remove that letter to reveal the sausage.
- BORAT: brat plus O
- CLINK: link plus C
- FRANK-N-FURTER: frankfurter plus N
- WIDENER: wiener plus D
Why Today’s Connections Puzzle Can Be Tricky
Several features make this board harder than it looks:
- Fictional characters overlap. LONG JOHN SILVER, PENNYWISE, BORAT, and FRANK-N-FURTER are all characters, yet they belong to three different groups.
- Names look alike. BARRETT, CARLOS, and WADSWORTH can pass for first names or surnames.
- Wordplay hides the purple group. The added letters sit in different spots, so you must remove them in your head.
- Beginnings and endings both matter. Metals appear at the end of words, while coins appear at the start.
Reading each word in both directions clears up much of the confusion.
What Makes a Good Connections Hint?
A good hint helps without solving the puzzle. It should meet these standards:
- Points to the idea, not the answer. A line like ‘think periodic table’ names the field, not the metal.
- Stays accurate. A hint should never mislead the player.
- Keeps the challenge. You should still make the final connection yourself.
- Is short and clear. One or two sentences are enough.
- Respects difficulty. A purple hint should still feel harder than a yellow one.
Daily hint columns, including Forbes’, work best when hints come first and answers come later.
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Forbes Connections Hints Today vs. Full Answers
Choose the level of help that fits your goal. The table compares the options.
| Help level | What you learn | Spoiler risk |
| One hint | A direction for one group | Low |
| All hints | A direction for all four groups | Low to medium |
| Category names | The exact theme of each group | High |
| Full answers | Every word in every group | Complete |
The Minimal-Hint Player
You want to solve most of the puzzle yourself. Read the yellow hint only, then return to the board. Stop there if you can.
The Stuck Player
You have made a mistake or two. Read the hints for the remaining groups, one at a time. If you still struggle, read the category names.
The Solution Seeker
You want to protect a streak or finish quickly. Go straight to the answers. Then use the explanations to learn the pattern for next time.
Tips for Solving NYT Connections Faster
These habits work on almost every puzzle, not only today’s.
Look for the Most Specific Relationship
Specific themes beat broad ones. ‘Words ending in metals’ is more specific than ‘things in a story.’ Start with the narrowest idea you can find.
Don’t Force Synonyms
Not every group is about meaning. If a synonym group needs a stretch, test spelling, sound, or hidden words instead.
Pay Attention to Word Structure
Check the first and last letters. Look for words inside words. Today’s board rewards this habit: coins, metals, and sausages are all hidden in longer words.
Consider Names Differently
A name can be a first name, a surname, or a middle name. Today’s blue group uses middle names. Ask where each name sits in a full name.
Save the Weirdest Four for Last
Solve the clear groups first. The leftover words then fall into the hardest category, which is often the purple group.
How Many Mistakes Can You Make?
You can make four mistakes. On the fourth wrong guess, the game ends and shows the answers.
The game also tells you when you are one away. When that happens, swap a single word. Do not reshuffle all four.
Why Connections Uses Red Herrings
Red herrings turn the game into a puzzle of choices, not just recognition. The puzzle setter places words that fit more than one group. You must decide which fit is correct.
Each word belongs to only one group. So an extra fit is always a trap. A group of five is a signal to look again, not a success.
What Does a Connections Streak Mean?
A streak tracks how many puzzles you solve in a row. Many players use hints to protect it. That is a personal choice, not cheating.
Reading one hint and then solving the grid yourself keeps the win your own. Check your NYT Games stats page for the exact streak rules.
Forbes Connections Hint Today: How to Avoid Spoilers
Spoilers appear fast. Use these steps to stay safe:
- Scroll slowly, and stop at the hints section.
- Open one hint at a time.
- Mute social posts that share colored grids until you finish.
- Cover the lower half of the screen while you scroll.
- Avoid headlines that include the word answers if you only want hints.
- Finish the puzzle before you read any explanation column.
Conclusion
The Forbes Connections hint today for puzzle #1,193 rewards careful reading. Metals sit at the end of words, coins sit at the start, and sausages hide behind one extra letter.
To get the most from the puzzle, follow this order:
- Study all 16 words first.
- Read one hint, then try again.
- Check every group for red herrings.
- Open the answers only when you are ready.
This approach protects your streak and builds skill for tomorrow’s board.
FAQs
What is the Forbes Connections hint today?
It is Forbes’ daily set of clues for the NYT Connections puzzle. For September 16, 2026, the puzzle is #1,193.
What are the NYT Connections categories for September 16, 2026?
They are ending in metal elements, starting with U.S. coins, poets’ middle names, and sausages plus a letter. These map to yellow, green, blue, and purple.
What is the hardest group in puzzle #1,193?
The purple group, sausages plus a letter, is the hardest. You must remove one letter from each word to reveal a sausage.
Who writes the Forbes Connections hints?
Kris Holt writes Forbes’ daily Connections hints and answers. The same writer also publishes a separate answers-explained column.
How many mistakes are allowed in NYT Connections?
You can make four mistakes. The fourth wrong guess ends the game and reveals the solution.
How can I get a Connections hint without seeing the answers?
Read only the hint for the color you need. Stop before the category and answer sections.
What do the Connections colors mean?
Yellow is the easiest group and purple is the hardest. Green and blue fall in between.
