Play Connections #1167
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 #1167 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
Basic requirements for staying alive and healthy.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Words a director or stage manager might say as a production gets underway.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one starts a title of a movie, book, or character featuring young people.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Fill-in-the-blank endings for phrases about rarity or infrequency.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words about time or life tempt you to blend the rarity phrases with the survival basics, and a sun and moon pairing across two groups adds extra noise.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- THINGS MOST ANIMALS NEED
- CALLS TO BEGIN A PERFORMANCE
- ___ KIDS
- ONCE IN A ___
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Difficulty: Medium. The categories are clear definition and fill-in-the-blank types, but the overlapping time and life ideas and the pop culture references add some friction.
Connections #1167 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 21, 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
NUTRITION is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS MOST ANIMALS NEED.
Show all four words
NUTRITION, OXYGEN, SLEEP, WATER
Show one word
ACTION is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CALLS TO BEGIN A PERFORMANCE.
Show all four words
ACTION, CURTAIN UP, PLACES, SHOWTIME
Show one word
COMEBACK is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ___ KIDS.
Show all four words
COMEBACK, KARATE, SUNDANCE, WIMPY
Show one word
BLUE MOON is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ONCE IN A ___.
Show all four words
BLUE MOON, GENERATION, LIFETIME, WHILE
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- NUTRITION: Animals must eat food to get nutrients.
- OXYGEN: Most animals breathe it to survive.
- SLEEP: Most animals need regular rest.
- WATER: Animals must drink it to stay alive.
- ACTION: A director's cue to start filming or performing.
- CURTAIN UP: Announces the stage curtain is rising to start.
- PLACES: Stage manager's call for performers to take positions.
- SHOWTIME: Announces the performance is about to begin.
- COMEBACK: Comeback Kid is a nickname for a resurgent figure.
- KARATE: The Karate Kid is a classic martial arts movie.
- SUNDANCE: The Sundance Kid was a famous outlaw in the Old West.
- WIMPY: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a popular book series.
Purple group explained
- BLUE MOON: Once in a blue moon means very rarely.
- GENERATION: Once in a generation means extremely rare.
- LIFETIME: Once in a lifetime means a rare opportunity.
- WHILE: Once in a while means occasionally.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 20 | #1166 | STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS |
| Aug 19 | #1165 | HOMOPHONES OF CGI-ANIMATED FILMS |
| 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 |
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 21
Connections #1167 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 21, 2026?
THINGS MOST ANIMALS NEED: NUTRITION, OXYGEN, SLEEP, WATER. CALLS TO BEGIN A PERFORMANCE: ACTION, CURTAIN UP, PLACES, SHOWTIME. ___ KIDS: COMEBACK, KARATE, SUNDANCE, WIMPY. ONCE IN A ___: BLUE MOON, GENERATION, LIFETIME, WHILE.
What was the purple group in Connections #1167?
ONCE IN A ___: BLUE MOON, GENERATION, LIFETIME, WHILE.
What made Connections #1167 tricky?
Several words about time or life tempt you to blend the rarity phrases with the survival basics, and a sun and moon pairing across two groups adds extra noise.