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NYT Connections · #1162

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1162) — August 16, 2026

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“Group the words that feel like everyday terms first and test them against obvious connections before anything that seems specialized.PARTY has appeared several times before — as social gathering in Connections #75 (Aug 25, 2023), and as somebody in Connections #467 (Sep 20, 2024). AGENT has appeared several times before — as spy in Connections #585 (Jan 16, 2025), and as double in Connections #527 (Nov 19, 2024).”

NYT Connections hints for August 16, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 ACTORA participant in a formal process or deal.
2 AGENTSomeone acting on behalf of another.
3 CONCERTA large-scale live music event.
4 FROM NEANDERThe part naming our closest extinct relatives.
5 GIGThe casual term for a musician's job.
6 GRANDThe prefix for a parent's parent.
7 GREATThe prefix that adds another generation.
8 HALFThe prefix for sharing one parent.
9 HANDYLooks like convenient but names the tool-using species.
10 PARTYLooks like a celebration but means someone involved.
11 PLAYERA participant in a game or situation.
12 SETThe block of songs played without a break.
13 SHOWThe full evening of live music.
14 STEPThe prefix for a relative by marriage.
15 UPRIGHTLooks like vertical but names the walking species.
16 WISELooks like knowledgeable but names our own species.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint What musicians do live in front of an audience.
See Group MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
See WordCONCERT
See WordGIG
See WordSET
See WordSHOW
See Hint Who gets named in a contract or a match.
See Group PARTICIPANT
See WordACTOR
See WordAGENT
See WordPARTY
See WordPLAYER
See Hint They stretch or blend family ties across generations.
See Group FAMILY RELATIONSHIP MODIFIERS
See WordGRAND
See WordGREAT
See WordHALF
See WordSTEP
See Hint They complete the names of species that came before us.
See Group DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS
See WordFROM NEANDER
See WordHANDY
See WordUPRIGHT
See WordWISE
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 HANDY Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of something convenient or useful, but here the puzzle is using it as part of a scientific name.
2 UPRIGHT Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing something vertical or honest, but here the puzzle is using it as part of a name describing posture.
3 WISE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of someone knowledgeable, but here the puzzle is using it as part of a scientific name for an ancestor.
4 PARTY Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a social gathering or celebration, but here the puzzle is using it in a formal sense of someone involved.

NYT Connections answers for August 16, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y MUSICAL PERFORMANCE · Yellow · easiest
  • CONCERT
  • GIG
  • SET
  • SHOW

CONCERT, GIG, SET and SHOW are all terms for a musical performance. SET stands out because it can also mean the sequence of songs played in one go.

G PARTICIPANT · Green · easy
  • ACTOR
  • AGENT
  • PARTY
  • PLAYER

ACTOR, AGENT, PARTY and PLAYER can all refer to a participant. PARTY is the one most likely to mislead because it usually means a celebration.

B FAMILY RELATIONSHIP MODIFIERS · Blue · medium
  • GRAND
  • GREAT
  • HALF
  • STEP

GRAND, GREAT, HALF and STEP are all prefixes that modify family relationships. GREAT is the one that can combine with another to create even more distant relatives.

P DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS · Purple · hardest
  • FROM NEANDER
  • HANDY
  • UPRIGHT
  • WISE

FROM NEANDER, HANDY, UPRIGHT and WISE are all parts of scientific names for hominins. HANDY is the sneakiest because it comes from the species famous for making tools.

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