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Verified archive for August 27, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1173

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 27, 2026

This board asks you to keep every source category literal while separating electric things, emotional responses, gray-related words and a letter-based music pattern.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

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

How to read the four source categories

Preserve the official capitalization, category titles and word lists. Treat overlap as a player-facing observation and do not infer editor intent or narrower category rules.

Overall difficultyThe verified color order is yellow, green, blue, purple, and each group keeps its source tier.Biggest trapA player-facing false start is PIKACHU, MISTY, BROCK and NEMO: their official labels are yellow, green, purple and purple, so only three source-group labels appear and the set cannot complete one source category.Best first moveBegin by writing each exact source title beside possible words, then test the letter-prefix reading in MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: B+ROCK, N+EMO, S+PUNK and W+RAP.

Why the board is deceptive

The four verified categories are ELECTRIC THINGS, MOVED TO TEARS, SHADES OF GRAY and MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER.

Use the exact source words as anchors: the final group reads as a starting letter added to a music genre.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Map candidates to the exact category titles, confirm the four-word ELECTRIC THINGS and SHADES OF GRAY sets, then verify MOVED TO TEARS before checking the letter-plus-genre construction.

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.

Yellow groupReveal this group

What connects ELECTRIC EEL, LIGHTNING, LIVE WIRE and PIKACHU?

ELECTRIC EEL · LIGHTNING · LIVE WIRE · PIKACHU

ELECTRIC THINGS. These are the four words listed by the verified source under ELECTRIC THINGS; the category is preserved literally.

Best anchor: Read the exact category title literally.

Green groupReveal this group

What connects CHOKED UP, EMOTIONAL, MISTY and OVERCOME?

CHOKED UP · EMOTIONAL · MISTY · OVERCOME

MOVED TO TEARS. The verified source places CHOKED UP, EMOTIONAL, MISTY and OVERCOME under MOVED TO TEARS.

Best anchor: The source title supplies the relationship.

Blue groupReveal this group

What connects ASH, DOVE, PEWTER and SLATE?

ASH · DOVE · PEWTER · SLATE

SHADES OF GRAY. The verified source groups ASH, DOVE, PEWTER and SLATE under the exact title SHADES OF GRAY.

Best anchor: Keep the shade relationship at its source level.

Purple groupReveal this group

What connects BROCK, NEMO, SPUNK and WRAP?

BROCK · NEMO · SPUNK · WRAP

MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER. Each word follows MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: B+ROCK, N+EMO, S+PUNK and W+RAP.

Best anchor: Separate the first letter from the genre.

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 guideConnections Answers for August 27, 2026: ELECTRIC THINGSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections Answers for August 27, 2026: MOVED TO TEARSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections Answers for August 27, 2026: SHADES OF GRAYExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections Answers for August 27, 2026: MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTERExplain 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
    ELECTRIC THINGS

    Read the exact category title literally.

  2. 2
    MOVED TO TEARS

    The source title supplies the relationship.

  3. 3
    SHADES OF GRAY

    Keep the shade relationship at its source level.

  4. 4
    MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER

    Separate the first letter from the genre.

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: Begin by writing each exact source title beside possible words, then test the letter-prefix reading in MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: B+ROCK, N+EMO, S+PUNK and W+RAP..

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 tier in the verified color order groupYellow group
ELECTRIC THINGS: Read the exact category title literally.
Green tier in the verified color order groupGreen group
MOVED TO TEARS: The source title supplies the relationship.
Blue tier in the verified color order groupBlue group
SHADES OF GRAY: Keep the shade relationship at its source level.
Purple tier in the verified color order groupPurple group
MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER: Separate the first letter from the genre.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideLightning Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideAsh Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideSpunk 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

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

Read Ethan’s profile →