NYT Connections Hints for 2026-08-25 — Puzzle #1171
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:
S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ K _ _ _ F _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ T _ _E _ _ _ _ _ I _ I _ _ C _ _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
SURFACE-LEVEL
Show theme 2
SCI-FI PHENOMENA
Show theme 3
STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"
Show theme 4
ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
NYT Connections answer for 2026-08-25
SURFACE-LEVEL
SUPERFICIAL, ONE-DIMENSIONAL, COSMETIC, SKIN-DEEP
SCI-FI PHENOMENA
HYPERSPACE, TIME WARP, PARALLEL UNIVERSE, TELEPORTATION
STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"
RUNNING MAN, LONG WALK, GREEN MILE, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
HARLEM SHAKE, LICKETY-SPLIT, TRAFFIC CONE, INSIDE SCOOP
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:S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ _ _ _ K _ _ _ F _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ T _ _E _ _ _ _ _ I _ I _ _ C _ _ _ _ O _ _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1SURFACE-LEVELShow theme 2SCI-FI PHENOMENAShow theme 3STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"Show theme 4ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
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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