Connections archive · Puzzle #1168

NYT Connections Hints & Answers — August 22, 2026 (#1168)

Group hints and answers for the NYT Connections puzzle on . Get a spoiler-free nudge for each group, or reveal the full solution — your call.

Difficulty: Medium

Spoiler control

Choose how much to reveal

Reveal one step at a time — nudges first, full answers only if you ask.

1. Group nudges spoiler-free
  • Yellow: Hand tools you’d find in a wood shop.
  • Green: Varieties that share the same fruit family name.
  • Blue: Spray patterns on a nozzle dial.
  • Purple: Famous TV and music titles that end with “Girls.”
2. One word from each group a foothold
  • Yellow: CHISEL
  • Green: BITTER
  • Blue: CONE
  • Purple: GILMORE
3. The four category names no words yet
  • Yellow: CARPENTRY TOOLS
  • Green: KINDS OF MELON
  • Blue: GARDEN HOSE SETTINGS
  • Purple: _____ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE
4. Reveal groups one by one
Yellow group

CARPENTRY TOOLS

  • CHISEL
  • HAMMER
  • PLANE
  • SAW
Green group

KINDS OF MELON

  • BITTER
  • MUSK
  • WATER
  • WINTER
Blue group

GARDEN HOSE SETTINGS

  • CONE
  • JET
  • MIST
  • SHOWER
Purple group

_____ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE

  • GILMORE
  • GOLDEN
  • MEAN
  • SPICE
5. Reveal everything full spoilers

Yellow — CARPENTRY TOOLS

  • CHISEL
  • HAMMER
  • PLANE
  • SAW

Green — KINDS OF MELON

  • BITTER
  • MUSK
  • WATER
  • WINTER

Blue — GARDEN HOSE SETTINGS

  • CONE
  • JET
  • MIST
  • SHOWER

Purple — _____ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE

  • GILMORE
  • GOLDEN
  • MEAN
  • SPICE

Today's puzzle, in a nutshell

Tools and melons are clean. Purple is the fun trap — famous “___ Girls” from TV and music, not actual people named Girl.

NYT Connections #1168 — quick answers

What are today's Connections categories?

CARPENTRY TOOLS; KINDS OF MELON; GARDEN HOSE SETTINGS; _____ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE.

What are all the answers?
  • CARPENTRY TOOLS: CHISEL, HAMMER, PLANE, SAW
  • KINDS OF MELON: BITTER, MUSK, WATER, WINTER
  • GARDEN HOSE SETTINGS: CONE, JET, MIST, SHOWER
  • _____ GIRLS OF POP CULTURE: GILMORE, GOLDEN, MEAN, SPICE

Also for: Connections hints 8/22/26, 8-22-26, 8 22 26, 8/22/2026, and puzzle #1168.

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