PREVIOUS CONNECTIONS DEFINITIONS
Plain-English meanings for all 16 words from the September 5, 2026 NYT Connections puzzle. No hints, categories or answers.
Feeling tired and ready to fall asleep.
Showing a lack of energy or alertness.
Describing a quiet or dull place or situation.
Used to describe someone who is slow to react or inattentive.
Often used as an adjective to describe a state of tiredness or drowsiness.
To make a loud, sharp sound, typically produced by a car horn or a goose.
A loud noise made by a goose.
To shout or call out loudly and abruptly.
Slang for using a car horn to get someone's attention.
Can be used as a verb or noun; also appears in informal speech and internet slang.
A small, round decoration made of yarn or fabric, often attached to hats or clothing.
To move or bounce up and down repeatedly.
To hesitate or falter in speech or action.
The term can be used as a noun or a verb and may appear in informal contexts.
To eat something quickly and eagerly, often noisily.
To make the characteristic sound of a turkey.
To consume or use up resources rapidly.
The term can also be used as a slang expression or in onomatopoeic contexts.
To sing with a quivering or trilling voice, often used to describe birdsong.
To speak or say something in a quavering or unsteady voice.
To produce a sound that fluctuates in pitch or tone.
A small swelling or lump on a bird caused by parasitic larvae.
The term can refer to both vocal sounds and a specific type of bird parasite.
To roughly assemble or put together using available materials or parts.
To pave a street or path with cobblestones.
To break or crush into small rounded stones or lumps.
A small rounded stone used in paving or landscaping.
Can be used as a verb or noun; also a surname and place name.
To move unsteadily from side to side or back and forth.
A shaking or trembling motion.
A variation or fluctuation in data or signal strength.
A style of bass modulation in electronic music.
Can be used as a verb or noun; also appears in slang and technical contexts.
A dark, thick, sticky substance made from coal or petroleum, used for paving roads and waterproofing.
An archive file format used to collect multiple files into one file, commonly used in computing.
A naval rating in the U.S. Navy referring to a trained sailor.
Slang term for a type of chewing tobacco.
The term can refer to a substance, a file format, a naval rating, or slang, depending on context.
The mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14159, representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
Private Investigator, a person who conducts investigations privately.
Principal Investigator, the lead researcher for a scientific study or project.
Performance Indicator, a measurable value used to evaluate the success of an organization or activity.
PI can refer to various concepts in mathematics, professions, research, and business contexts.
A tool with a heavy metal head mounted on a handle, used for pounding nails or breaking objects.
To strike something forcefully or repeatedly.
A device or mechanism resembling a hammer in function or shape.
Slang for an overwhelming defeat or a powerful performance.
The term can refer to a tool, an action, slang, or be used metaphorically.
To walk with short, unsteady steps, typically used to describe the way a young child moves.
To move or proceed in a leisurely or unsteady manner.
To walk with a slight rocking or swaying motion.
The term is often used to describe the early walking stage of toddlers but can also be used more generally for any unsteady or leisurely walking.
Chief Operating Officer, a senior executive responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a company.
Certificate of Origin, a document used in international trade to certify the country where goods were manufactured.
COO, an abbreviation for 'coo,' the soft murmuring sound made by doves or pigeons.
COO is commonly used as a business title but can also refer to documents or sounds depending on context.
To move slowly or rhythmically back and forth or side to side.
To influence someone's opinion or decision.
A smooth, confident style or manner of movement.
A type of control or dominance over a group or situation.
Can be used as a verb or noun; also a name and slang term in some contexts.
A container with a handle and a narrow opening, used for holding and pouring liquids.
A large amount of something, especially money (slang).
To cheat or swindle someone (slang).
A prison or jail (informal).
The term can be used as a noun or verb and appears in various informal and regional contexts.
A wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability.
A type of legal claim in civil law distinct from criminal charges.
An abbreviation for 'tortilla' in informal contexts.
The term is primarily used in legal contexts but can also appear as slang or abbreviations in informal settings.
To move in an unsteady or shaky way, as if about to fall.
To walk or stand with difficulty due to weakness or imbalance.
To be on the verge of collapse or failure, especially structurally or financially.
The term can also be used figuratively to describe unstable situations or conditions.