Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
There may be less substance here than appearances suggest.
Show one word
COSMETIC belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SURFACE-LEVEL
Reveal all four words
- COSMETIC
- ONE-DIMENSIONAL
- SKIN-DEEP
- SUPERFICIAL
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1171
hints & answers for August 25, 2026
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#1171
This reference always shows August 25, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
In these stories, the usual rules of space and time need not apply.
Show one word
HYPERSPACE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SCI-FI PHENOMENA
Reveal all four words
- HYPERSPACE
- PARALLEL UNIVERSE
- TELEPORTATION
- TIME WARP
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
One prolific horror novelist is behind these screen stories.
Show one word
GREEN MILE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"
Reveal all four words
- GREEN MILE
- LONG WALK
- RUNNING MAN
- SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Each becomes the title of a Stephen King film adaptation when preceded by THE.
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
Listen to the last part as though you were at a frozen-treat counter.
Show one word
HARLEM SHAKE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
Reveal all four words
- HARLEM SHAKE
- INSIDE SCOOP
- LICKETY-SPLIT
- TRAFFIC CONE
The endings are SHAKE, SCOOP, SPLIT and CONE.
Show categories only
- Yellow: SURFACE-LEVEL
- Green: SCI-FI PHENOMENA
- Blue: STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"
- Purple: ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
SURFACE-LEVEL
COSMETIC · ONE-DIMENSIONAL · SKIN-DEEP · SUPERFICIAL
Green
SCI-FI PHENOMENA
HYPERSPACE · PARALLEL UNIVERSE · TELEPORTATION · TIME WARP
Blue
STEPHEN KING FILM ADAPTATIONS, WITH "THE"
GREEN MILE · LONG WALK · RUNNING MAN · SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
Purple
ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS
HARLEM SHAKE · INSIDE SCOOP · LICKETY-SPLIT · TRAFFIC CONE
This puzzle’s recorded solution
The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.
Continue from this date
About the answers and hints
Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.
Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.
The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.