Today’s NYT Connections Hints and Answers for Aug. 17, #1163

Today’s Connections puzzle is a challenging one. Read on for hints and today’s Connections answers.

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Computer chat.

Green group hint: Microsoft Excel.

Blue group hint: Famous singers.

Purple group hint: Furry, feathered and finned friends.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Video call platforms.

Green group: Spreadsheet features.

Blue group: First names of country music legends.

Purple group: Starting with pets.

What are today’s Connections answers?

The completed NYT Connections puzzle for Aug. 17, 2026. NYT/Screenshot by CNET

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is video call platforms.

The four answers are Huddle, Meet, Teams and Zoom.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is spreadsheet features.

The four answers are formula, function, macro and script.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is first names of country music legends.

The four answers are Dolly, Johnny, Patsy and Willie.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is starting with pets.

The four answers are birdie, cattle, dogie and fisheye.

Toughest Connections puzzles

We’ve made a note of some of the toughest Connections puzzles​ so far. Maybe they’ll help you see patterns in future puzzles.

#5: Included “things you can set,” such as mood, record, table and volleyball.

#4: Included “one in a dozen,” such as egg, juror, month and rose.

#3: Included “streets on screen,” such as Elm, Fear, Jump and Sesame.

#2: Included “power ___” such as nap, plant, Ranger and trip.

#1: Included “things that can run,” such as candidate, faucet, mascara and nose.