NYT Connections Hints for 2026-08-20 — Puzzle #1166
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:
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 2026-08-20
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
- 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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