Issue #1164 Tue 18 Aug
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — August 18, 2026
Today's grid asks for a steady hand and a willingness to follow a trail of breadcrumbs. Expect a few sharp turns before the final picture settles into focus.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A flash of camera light, a long stretch of black paint, and the steady hum of a idling engine outside a theater.
Event logistics
Examples of one named set
Members are 9–11 letters; first letters L, P, R, V.
SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE
One is LIMOUSINE.
LIMOUSINE · PAPARAZZI · RED CARPET · VELVET ROPE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The initial letters stand tall, waiting for a second syllable to reveal the full phrase.
Wordplay group
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 11–15 letters; first letters P.
PJS
One is PETROLEUM JELLY.
PETROLEUM JELLY · POETIC JUSTICE · PRACTICAL JOKE · PRIVATE JET
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A discarded peel on the counter, the bright hue of a gym floor, and a roadside warning marker.
Commonly orange objects
Items sharing one feature
Members are 9–12 letters; first letters B, O, S, T.
THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE
One is BASKETBALL.
BASKETBALL · ORANGUTAN · SWEET POTATO · TRAFFIC CONE
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The coarse scratch of a workshop tool or the dregs left behind in a tin mug.
Textural descriptors
Synonyms
Members are 9–13 letters; first letters C, F, S.
THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY
One is COWBOY COFFEE.
COWBOY COFFEE · FILM NOIR · FLYERS MASCOT · SANDPAPER
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERELIMOUSINE · PAPARAZZI · RED CARPET · VELVET ROPE
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Reveal the green group
PJSPETROLEUM JELLY · POETIC JUSTICE · PRACTICAL JOKE · PRIVATE JET
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Reveal the blue group
THINGS THAT ARE ORANGEBASKETBALL · ORANGUTAN · SWEET POTATO · TRAFFIC CONE
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Reveal the violet group
THINGS THAT ARE GRITTYCOWBOY COFFEE · FILM NOIR · FLYERS MASCOT · SANDPAPER
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on August 18, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for August 18, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on August 18, 2026?
NYT Connections on August 18, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on August 18, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1164?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words