NYT Connections
Why Is SEXTANT in NYT Connections?
SEXTANT is a real navigation instrument, but that is not the connection here. In Connections #1187, the word ends with EXTANT: S + EXTANT. EXTANT means currently or still existing, so it fits the group of entries ending in words connected with “happening now.”
S + EXTANT → SEXTANT
| Connections entry | Ending hidden inside it | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| ADULT CONTEMPORARY | CONTEMPORARY | connected with the present time |
| ALTERNATING CURRENT | CURRENT | happening or existing now |
| REPRESENT | PRESENT | happening or existing now |
| SEXTANT | EXTANT | currently or still existing |
Why now
SEXTANT appeared in Connections #1187 in a group whose real relationship is hidden in the endings of the entries.
The connection
Why here
What Does EXTANT Mean?
EXTANT means currently or still existing. It is most often used for something that still survives or remains in existence. That present-time meaning is what matters in this Connections group.
How the Whole Purple Group Works
The trick is in the ending of each entry, not in the normal meaning of the full phrase or word.
Why SEXTANT Is Such a Strong Trap
SEXTANT already has a complete, familiar meaning: a navigation instrument. That makes it easy to search for a meaning-based group that does not exist. The Purple group only becomes visible when you stop treating SEXTANT as one whole idea and notice that it ends in EXTANT.
More context
Context
Is EXTANT Really Inside SEXTANT?
Yes. Remove the first S from SEXTANT and the remaining letters spell EXTANT exactly.
SEXTANT S + EXTANT
Why REPRESENT Uses the Same Trick
REPRESENT works the same way. It ends in PRESENT: RE + PRESENT. PRESENT and EXTANT both point toward something existing or occurring in the present, which is why REPRESENT and SEXTANT belong in the same wordplay group.
For the complete puzzle, see all four NYT Connections #1187 groups explained.
Keep exploring
Related Things
Evidence
Sources
- NYT Connections — The New York Times
Official puzzle surface for NYT Connections #1187 on September 10, 2026.
- Extant Definition & Meaning — Merriam-Webster
Defines extant as currently or still existing.