Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,163 hints and answers for Monday, August 17, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #1,163 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

VIDEO CALL PLATFORMS

HUDDLE · MEET · TEAMS · ZOOM

Group 2 - Green

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

SPREADSHEET FEATURES

FORMULA · FUNCTION · MACRO · SCRIPT

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: These four belong together for one clean reason. If two of them pair up in your head first, let the other two confirm it.

FIRST NAMES OF COUNTRY MUSIC LEGENDS

DOLLY · JOHNNY · PATSY · WILLIE

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

STARTING WITH PETS

BIRDIE · CATTLE · DOGIE · FISHEYE

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "On a bender"