Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is tricky. Animal lovers, you may get a laugh out of the two separate dog categories. (Only one refers to the actual four-legged friend.) Read on for hints and today’s Connections answers.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: I don’t even believe it!
Green group hint: Musical instrument.
Blue group hint: Woof! Bark! Arf!
Purple group hint: Like the blue category, but a little different.
Answers for today’s Connections groups
Yellow group: Flabbergast.
Green group: Things in a violin case.
Blue group: ____ dogs (that are dogs)
Purple group: ____ dogs (that aren’t dogs)
What are today’s Connections answers?
The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Sept. 2, 2026.NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is flabbergast.
The four answers are dazzle, floor, stun and wow.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is things in a violin case.
The four answers are bow, mute, rosin and shoulder rest.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ dogs (that are dogs).
The four answers are hunting, rescue, sausage and sheep.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is ____ dogs (that aren’t dogs).
The four answers are corn, prairie, salty and top.
CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.
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