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Verified archive for August 20, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1166

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 20, 2026

The August 20, 2026 board groups pizza names, kinds of numbers, similarly shaped typographical marks, and words starting with Chinese zodiac animals.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

August 20 Connections Overview

All category labels and board words are preserved from the validated source. Explanations describe the official relationships literally and treat possible overlaps as player observations.

Overall difficultyThe verified color order places the pizza group first, followed by numbers, typographical marks, and the Chinese-zodiac openings.Biggest trapSeveral entries invite readings outside their official category: marks can have distinct roles, while the final four words must be examined by their openings rather than their complete meanings.Best first moveStart with the four typographical marks: APOSTROPHE, CEDILLA, COMMA, and OKINA form the exact official category, leaving the remaining words easier to sort by their literal relationships.

Why the board is deceptive

The board contains four verified groups whose relationships range from menu names to number labels and visual marks.

The final group uses the beginnings of DRAGONFLY, OXFORD, PIGMENT, and RATCHET rather than their complete standalone meanings.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

A useful route is to identify the mark group first, then separate the four pizza names from the four number labels. The remaining words reveal the group beginning with Chinese zodiac animals: DRAGON, OX, PIG, and RAT.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

KINDS OF PIZZAReveal this group

What connects DIAVOLA, HAWAIIAN, MEAT LOVERS and WHITE?

DIAVOLA · HAWAIIAN · MEAT LOVERS · WHITE

KINDS OF PIZZA. DIAVOLA, HAWAIIAN, MEAT LOVERS, and WHITE are the four words listed under the source category KINDS OF PIZZA.

Best anchor: The pizza-name set provides a menu-oriented foothold.

KINDS OF NUMBERSReveal this group

What connects ATOMIC, SERIAL, SOCIAL SECURITY and TELEPHONE?

ATOMIC · SERIAL · SOCIAL SECURITY · TELEPHONE

KINDS OF NUMBERS. ATOMIC, SERIAL, SOCIAL SECURITY, and TELEPHONE are preserved exactly as the source words in KINDS OF NUMBERS.

Best anchor: Read these as kinds of numbers, not as unrelated dictionary senses.

SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKSReveal this group

What connects APOSTROPHE, CEDILLA, COMMA and OKINA?

APOSTROPHE · CEDILLA · COMMA · OKINA

SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS. APOSTROPHE, CEDILLA, COMMA, and OKINA are the four marks named by the exact source category SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS.

Best anchor: The exact referents are written marks, including the okina as the Hawaiian letter.

STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALSReveal this group

What connects DRAGONFLY, OXFORD, PIGMENT and RATCHET?

DRAGONFLY · OXFORD · PIGMENT · RATCHET

STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS. Each word starts with one animal name named by the official category: DRAGON in DRAGONFLY, OX in OXFORD, PIG in PIGMENT, and RAT in RATCHET.

Best anchor: The word starts, not the complete meanings, supply the connection.

Today’s supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideAugust 20, 2026 Connections: KINDS OF PIZZAExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 20, 2026 Connections: KINDS OF NUMBERSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 20, 2026 Connections: SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 20, 2026 Connections: STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    KINDS OF PIZZA

    The pizza-name set provides a menu-oriented foothold.

  2. 2
    KINDS OF NUMBERS

    Read these as kinds of numbers, not as unrelated dictionary senses.

  3. 3
    SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS

    The exact referents are written marks, including the okina as the Hawaiian letter.

  4. 4
    STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS

    The word starts, not the complete meanings, supply the connection.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with the four typographical marks: APOSTROPHE, CEDILLA, COMMA, and OKINA form the exact official category, leaving the remaining words easier to sort by their literal relationships..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

yellow groupKINDS OF PIZZA
KINDS OF PIZZA: The pizza-name set provides a menu-oriented foothold.
green groupKINDS OF NUMBERS
KINDS OF NUMBERS: Read these as kinds of numbers, not as unrelated dictionary senses.
blue groupSIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS
SIMILARLY SHAPED TYPOGRAPHICAL MARKS: The exact referents are written marks, including the okina as the Hawaiian letter.
purple groupSTARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS
STARTING WITH CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMALS: The word starts, not the complete meanings, supply the connection.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Language guideDiavola Meaning

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideApostrophe Meaning

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideCedilla Meaning

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideOkina Meaning

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Nora Bennett

An editor focused on spoiler-conscious daily puzzle guides and plain-English solving explanations.

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