Play Connections #1165
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1165 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
These all describe something that takes almost no effort.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each one is a way to keep something from being seen.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Add the same word to each and you get a game played with a round object.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Say these out loud and you may hear titles from a multiplex.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words suggest an outdoor meal outing, which tempts you to build a group that isn't really there.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- PIECE OF CAKE
- CONCEAL
- WORDS BEFORE "BALL" IN SPORT NAMES
- HOMOPHONES OF CGI-ANIMATED FILMS
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Difficulty: Hard. The sound-alike group relies on knowing specific movie titles and spotting odd spellings, and one member of the easiest group is a noun that doesn't look like a synonym at first.
Connections #1165 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 19, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
BREEZE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PIECE OF CAKE.
Show all four words
BREEZE, CINCH, PICNIC, SNAP
Show one word
BLANKET is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CONCEAL.
Show all four words
BLANKET, HIDE, MASK, OBSCURE
Show one word
BASE is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is WORDS BEFORE "BALL" IN SPORT NAMES.
Show all four words
BASE, BASKET, FOOT, PICKLE
Show one word
ANTS is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is HOMOPHONES OF CGI-ANIMATED FILMS.
Show all four words
ANTS, COCOA, RHEO, SEOUL
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- BREEZE: Something that goes effortlessly, like an easy task
- CINCH: Slang for a task that is very easy
- PICNIC: Informal for something simple and pleasant to do
- SNAP: Slang for an easy task
- BLANKET: As a verb, means to cover over completely
- HIDE: Put something out of sight
- MASK: Cover up to disguise
- OBSCURE: Make hard to see or understand
- BASE: Makes baseball
- BASKET: Makes basketball
- FOOT: Makes football
- PICKLE: Makes pickleball
Purple group explained
- ANTS: Sounds like Antz, the 1998 animated movie
- COCOA: Sounds like Coco, the Pixar film
- RHEO: Sounds like Rio, the parrot adventure
- SEOUL: Sounds like Soul, the Pixar film
What does RHEO mean?
Not a standalone English word; it is a combining prefix from Greek meaning flow or current, as in rheostat. Here it only matters because it sounds like 'Rio', the 2011 animated film about macaws in Brazil.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 18 | #1164 | THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY |
| Aug 17 | #1163 | STARTING WITH PETS |
| Aug 16 | #1162 | DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS |
| Aug 15 | #1161 | ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR FOLLOW SECRETLY |
| Aug 14 | #1160 | TRIANGLE LOGOS |
| Aug 13 | #1159 | "COLD" THINGS, IN IDIOMS |
| Aug 12 | #1158 | STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Aug 19
Connections #1165 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 19, 2026?
PIECE OF CAKE: BREEZE, CINCH, PICNIC, SNAP. CONCEAL: BLANKET, HIDE, MASK, OBSCURE. WORDS BEFORE "BALL" IN SPORT NAMES: BASE, BASKET, FOOT, PICKLE. HOMOPHONES OF CGI-ANIMATED FILMS: ANTS, COCOA, RHEO, SEOUL.
What was the purple group in Connections #1165?
HOMOPHONES OF CGI-ANIMATED FILMS: ANTS, COCOA, RHEO, SEOUL.
What made Connections #1165 tricky?
Several words suggest an outdoor meal outing, which tempts you to build a group that isn't really there.