NYT Connections Hints for 2026-08-16 — Puzzle #1162
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
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:
M _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _F _ _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ O _ _ H _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Show theme 2
PARTICIPANT
Show theme 3
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP MODIFIERS
Show theme 4
DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS
NYT Connections answer for 2026-08-16
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
CONCERT, SET, SHOW, GIG
PARTICIPANT
PARTY, ACTOR, PLAYER, AGENT
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP MODIFIERS
GRAND, HALF, STEP, GREAT
DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS
HANDY, UPRIGHT, WISE, FROM NEANDER
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:M _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _F _ _ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ O _ _ H _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1MUSICAL PERFORMANCEShow theme 2PARTICIPANTShow theme 3FAMILY RELATIONSHIP MODIFIERSShow theme 4DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS
Recent NYT Connections puzzles
- 2026-09-20 — #1197
- 2026-09-19 — #1196
- 2026-09-18 — #1195
- 2026-09-17 — #1194
- 2026-09-16 — #1193
- 2026-09-15 — #1192
- 2026-09-14 — #1191
- 2026-09-13 — #1190
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