NYT Connections Hints for August 17, 2026 — Puzzle #1163
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1163 on August 17, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words — the full solution stays hidden until you reveal it.
1. The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
2. The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:
V _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _ _F _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ O _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ P _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
VIDEO CALL PLATFORMS
Show theme 2
SPREADSHEET FEATURES
Show theme 3
FIRST NAMES OF COUNTRY MUSIC LEGENDS
Show theme 4
STARTING WITH PETS
NYT Connections answer for August 17, 2026 — puzzle #1163
VIDEO CALL PLATFORMS
MEET, ZOOM, HUDDLE, TEAMS
SPREADSHEET FEATURES
MACRO, SCRIPT, FUNCTION, FORMULA
FIRST NAMES OF COUNTRY MUSIC LEGENDS
DOLLY, WILLIE, PATSY, JOHNNY
STARTING WITH PETS
DOGIE, CATTLE, FISHEYE, BIRDIE
Frequently asked questions
The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:V _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _ _F _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _ O _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ P _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1VIDEO CALL PLATFORMSShow theme 2SPREADSHEET FEATURESShow theme 3FIRST NAMES OF COUNTRY MUSIC LEGENDSShow theme 4STARTING WITH PETS
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
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