Yellow group
Most direct
First nudge
Think of a balloon a few days after the party.
Stronger nudge
Each word describes something limp or loose, like a tired plant or a rope with no tension.
Group name
Lacking in firmness
Connections hint #1190: September 13, 2026
Step-by-step hints and answers for Connections #1190, from Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Sunday opens with a grid that looks friendlier than it plays. A few tiles will seem to recognize each other on sight, and acting on that first spark is the quickest way to lose a guess. One group is about as plain as this game gets, so bank it early. After that the going slows, and the last eight tiles need a slower hand. Neither of the final two sets gives much away until the board is nearly clear.
- PORRIDGE
- GARFIELD
- DROOPY
- EMPTY
- HEATHCLIFF
- EXCESS
- GRANT
- SLACK
- ODIE
- PARAMOUNT
- SAGGING
- MADISON
- FLACCID
- KEWPIE
- CLEVELAND
- DOUBLESPEAK
Hints for Connections #1190
Open one step at a time. Step three names the group, so stop earlier if you want more of a challenge. New to the game? Read how to play Connections first, or see what the four colors mean.
Green group
Fairly direct
First nudge
Think about history class and a long list of names learned in order.
Stronger nudge
Each is the surname of a man who led the country, including one who served two terms that were not back to back.
Group name
U.S. presidents
Blue group
Takes some thought
First nudge
Say each tile slowly and listen rather than read.
Stronger nudge
Each tile sounds like a pair of letters spoken aloud, the way easy sounds like E and Z.
Group name
Words that sound like two letters
Purple group
Trickiest
First nudge
Look at how each of these longer words finishes.
Stronger nudge
Each tile ends with a place where hikers climb high, such as a summit or the edge of a steep drop.
Group name
Ending in elevated landforms
Show the trap
Cartoon fans will spot a gang of famous animals here: GARFIELD, ODIE, HEATHCLIFF and DROOPY all share their names with well-known cats and dogs. It feels like a ready-made set, but the four are scattered across the grid, each one doing a different job. Treat the cartoon link as a coincidence and ask what else each name could be.
More ways to dodge red herrings: our Connections tips.
Word meanings
Some meanings point toward a group, so they stay hidden until you open them.
Show meanings for 5 tricky words
- KEWPIE
- A type of doll with big eyes and a topknot of hair, first drawn by the illustrator Rose O'Neill in the early 1900s. Also the name of a Japanese mayonnaise brand.
- ODIE
- The good-natured yellow dog in the Garfield comic strip created by Jim Davis. He shares the strip with Garfield the cat.
- HEATHCLIFF
- The brooding antihero of Emily Bronte's novel Wuthering Heights, and also the name of an orange cat in a long-running newspaper comic.
- DOUBLESPEAK
- Language that deliberately hides or twists the truth, often used by officials to make bad news sound harmless.
- FLACCID
- Soft and limp rather than firm. It is often used for muscles or plant stems, and it is commonly pronounced FLAS-id or FLAK-sid.
Answers for Connections #1190
This section shows all four groups. Only open it if you're finished or ready to give up.
Show all four groups
-
Lacking in firmness
DROOPY, FLACCID, SAGGING, SLACK
Words for something lacking firmness: DROOPY, FLACCID, SAGGING and SLACK.
-
U.S. presidents
CLEVELAND, GARFIELD, GRANT, MADISON
Surnames of U.S. presidents: CLEVELAND, GARFIELD, GRANT and MADISON.
-
Words that sound like two letters
EMPTY, EXCESS, KEWPIE, ODIE
Words that sound like two letters said aloud: EMPTY (M T), EXCESS (X S), KEWPIE (Q P) and ODIE (O D).
-
Ending in elevated landforms
DOUBLESPEAK, HEATHCLIFF, PARAMOUNT, PORRIDGE
Words that end in a raised landform: DOUBLESPEAK (peak), HEATHCLIFF (cliff), PARAMOUNT (mount) and PORRIDGE (ridge).
The solve at a glance
SLACK, SAGGING, DROOPY and FLACCID give the gentlest start, which takes one cartoon name off the table. GARFIELD then belongs with CLEVELAND, GRANT and MADISON as presidents. ODIE leaves the comic strip behind: say it aloud with EMPTY, EXCESS and KEWPIE and you hear pairs of letters. HEATHCLIFF closes the grid beside DOUBLESPEAK, PARAMOUNT and PORRIDGE, each ending in high ground.
Want to get better at spotting groups? Start with what the four colors mean.
Answers checked against the official answers by Alan. This puzzle appeared on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
More Connections puzzles
Every puzzle keeps its own page with the same nudges, meanings and answers, so you can go back to any day.
Looking for a different day? Use the links below, or head to today's Connections hint. Every puzzle from September 2026 is listed on the September 2026 archive page.