NYT Connections — September 1, 2026
Hints — one at a time
Hint 1 of 5
Today's board moves from phrases you'd use to swear you're telling the truth, to long, thin objects that usually come in a bundle, to famous fictional detectives, and finally to words that start with a verb meaning to intend or desire something.
Hint 2 of 5
Yellow (easiest): each of these is something you'd say to convince someone you're being completely sincere.
Hint 3 of 5
Green: each of these is a slender object that typically shows up alongside identical others, whether in a quiver, a bag, a game, or a bowl.
Hint 4 of 5
Blue: each of these is a famous sleuth from mystery fiction who solves cases for a living.
Hint 5 of 5
Purple (hardest): read just the first part of each word or name and you'll find a verb for wanting or planning to do something.
The answer — spoilers!
Reveal the full answer
"I Promise!"
CROSS MY HEART · FOR REAL · ON GOD · PINKY SWEAR
Long, Skinny Things Often Seen Together
ARROW · GOLF CLUB · PICK-UP STICK · SPAGHETTO
Private Investigators Of Fiction
HERCULE POIROT · MIKE HAMMER · SAM SPADE · SHERLOCK HOLMES
Starting With Words Of Intention
AIMEE MANN · HOPE DIAMOND · PLANETARIUM · WISHY-WASHY
This puzzle by the numbers
- Starting With Words Of Intention
- SHERLOCK HOLMES
Counted from our own archive of NYT Connections answers — not published anywhere else.
