Daily Puzzle Hints

NYT Connections Hints for 2026-08-09 — Puzzle #1155

Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.

Source: the official puzzle feed (official NYT feed), retrieved . Hints are derived from the official answer data — no invented clues, difficulty scores or word claims.

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:

3. Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1

TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Show theme 2

CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Show theme 3

MOVIE SUBGENRES

Show theme 4

THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF

NYT Connections answer for 2026-08-09

TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH

SHIFT GEARS, COURSE-CORRECT, CHANGE TACK, RECALIBRATE

CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS

CAPS FOR SALE, CORDUROY, MADELINE, GOODNIGHT MOON

MOVIE SUBGENRES

SPACE OPERA, NEO-NOIR, BUDDY COP, SPAGHETTI WESTERN

THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF

JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH, ESCAPE ROOM, BAD DREAM

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:T _ _ _ A D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _C _ _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _M _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _T _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ T _ G _ _ O _ _ O _

Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACHShow theme 2CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKSShow theme 3MOVIE SUBGENRESShow theme 4THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF

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