Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,173 hints and answers for Thursday, August 27, 2026

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

Connections #1,173 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: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

ELECTRIC THINGS

ELECTRIC EEL · LIGHTNING · LIVE WIRE · PIKACHU

Group 2 - Green

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

MOVED TO TEARS

CHOKED UP · EMOTIONAL · MISTY · OVERCOME

Group 3 - Blue

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

SHADES OF GRAY

ASH · DOVE · PEWTER · SLATE

Group 4 - Purple

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.

MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER

BROCK · NEMO · SPUNK · WRAP

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "Spiraling definitions"