Play Connections #1173
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 #1173 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
All of these can give you a shock.
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Green group hintGentle hint
All of these describe being swept up in your feelings.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are muted tones somewhere between black and white.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Drop the first letter and you will find a style of tunes.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words are also names of characters from the same popular kids' franchise, which tempts you to group them together even though they belong in different sets.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- ELECTRIC THINGS
- MOVED TO TEARS
- SHADES OF GRAY
- MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER
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Difficulty: Hard. The last group depends on spotting hidden words inside ordinary-looking ones, and several words seem to fit more than one category.
Connections #1173 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 27, 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
ELECTRIC EEL is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ELECTRIC THINGS.
Show all four words
ELECTRIC EEL, LIGHTNING, LIVE WIRE, PIKACHU
Show one word
CHOKED UP is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is MOVED TO TEARS.
Show all four words
CHOKED UP, EMOTIONAL, MISTY, OVERCOME
Show one word
ASH is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is SHADES OF GRAY.
Show all four words
ASH, DOVE, PEWTER, SLATE
Show one word
BROCK is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER.
Show all four words
BROCK, NEMO, SPUNK, WRAP
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- ELECTRIC EEL: This fish can stun prey with a powerful shock.
- LIGHTNING: A bolt of natural electricity from a storm.
- LIVE WIRE: A wire carrying current that can shock you.
- PIKACHU: The Pokémon known for its electric attacks.
- CHOKED UP: Too emotional to speak, with a lump in your throat.
- EMOTIONAL: Showing strong feelings, often close to crying.
- MISTY: Eyes watery and about to spill over.
- OVERCOME: Overwhelmed by feeling.
- ASH: A pale, powdery gray.
- DOVE: A soft gray, like the bird.
- PEWTER: A bluish gray, like the metal alloy.
- SLATE: A dark gray, like roofing stone.
Purple group explained
- BROCK: B plus ROCK.
- NEMO: N plus EMO.
- SPUNK: S plus PUNK.
- WRAP: W plus RAP.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 26 | #1172 | KEY ___ |
| Aug 25 | #1171 | ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS |
| Aug 24 | #1170 | LETTER HOMOPHONE PLUS TENNIS TERM |
| Aug 23 | #1169 | HOUSEHOLD STAIN REMOVERS |
| Aug 22 | #1168 | ___ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE |
| Aug 21 | #1167 | ONCE IN A ___ |
| Aug 20 | #1166 | STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS |
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 27
Connections #1173 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 27, 2026?
ELECTRIC THINGS: ELECTRIC EEL, LIGHTNING, LIVE WIRE, PIKACHU. MOVED TO TEARS: CHOKED UP, EMOTIONAL, MISTY, OVERCOME. SHADES OF GRAY: ASH, DOVE, PEWTER, SLATE. MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: BROCK, NEMO, SPUNK, WRAP.
What was the purple group in Connections #1173?
MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: BROCK, NEMO, SPUNK, WRAP.
What made Connections #1173 tricky?
Several words are also names of characters from the same popular kids' franchise, which tempts you to group them together even though they belong in different sets.