NYT Connections Hints for August 20, 2026 — Puzzle #1166
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1166 on August 20, 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:
K _ _ _ _ O _ P _ _ _ _K _ _ _ _ O _ N _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ Z _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
KINDS OF PIZZA
Show theme 2
KINDS OF NUMBERS
Show theme 3
SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS
Show theme 4
STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS
NYT Connections answer for August 20, 2026 — puzzle #1166
KINDS OF PIZZA
HAWAIIAN, WHITE, DIAVOLA, MEAT LOVERS
KINDS OF NUMBERS
TELEPHONE, SERIAL, ATOMIC, SOCIAL SECURITY
SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS
APOSTROPHE, OKINA, COMMA, CEDILLA
STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS
OXFORD, RATCHET, PIGMENT, DRAGONFLY
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:K _ _ _ _ O _ P _ _ _ _K _ _ _ _ O _ N _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ Z _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1KINDS OF PIZZAShow theme 2KINDS OF NUMBERSShow theme 3SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKSShow theme 4STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
- September 20, 2026 — #1197
- September 19, 2026 — #1196
- September 18, 2026 — #1195
- September 17, 2026 — #1194
- September 16, 2026 — #1193
- September 15, 2026 — #1192
- September 14, 2026 — #1191
- September 13, 2026 — #1190
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