Play Connections #1148
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1148 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
These are the little sounds and words people drop into casual speech while they figure out what to say next.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These small words answer the question of how something got done or delivered.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each of these can complete a phrase about a switchable setting or style on a device or in a kitchen.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Drop the first letter of each and you get a three-letter tag you might see on checked luggage.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several small connecting words like LIKE, SO and PER could seem to belong with the casual-speech words or the how-it-was-done words, and the French phrase could also fit the 'in the manner of' idea.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- FILLER WORDS
- BY MEANS OF
- ___ MODE
- U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER
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Difficulty: Hard. The last group hides its trick inside unfamiliar-looking words, and several short words could plausibly fit more than one of the easier groups.
Connections #1148 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 2, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
ACTUALLY is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is FILLER WORDS.
Show all four words
ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO, WELL
Show one word
BY is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is BY MEANS OF.
Show all four words
BY, PER, THROUGH, VIA
Show one word
AIRPLANE is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ___ MODE.
Show all four words
AIRPLANE, BEAST, DARK, À LA
Show one word
ASEA is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER.
Show all four words
ASEA, FLAX, LORD, OLGA
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- ACTUALLY: Common spoken filler, often used to hedge or correct
- LIKE: Teens and adults alike pepper speech with it
- SO: Often starts a sentence while the speaker gathers thoughts
- WELL: A classic pause word before answering
- BY: Shows the method, as in 'travel by train'
- PER: Means 'according to' or 'by way of'
- THROUGH: Can mean by way of or by means of
- VIA: Means by way of a route or channel
- AIRPLANE: A phone setting that disables wireless signals
- BEAST: A gaming or fitness phrase for going all out
- DARK: A screen display setting that dims the colors
- À LA: Used in the phrase for dessert served with ice cream
Purple group explained
- ASEA: A plus SEA, Seattle-Tacoma
- FLAX: F plus LAX, Los Angeles
- LORD: L plus ORD, Chicago O'Hare
- OLGA: O plus LGA, New York LaGuardia
What does À LA mean?
A French phrase meaning 'in the style of' or 'in the manner of', as in dishes named after a cook or region. Here it completes 'à la mode', which on a menu means served with ice cream.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 1 | #1147 | STARTING WITH BREAD SHAPES |
| Jul 31 | #1146 | STARTING WITH MERRIMENTS |
| Jul 30 | #1145 | ON THE ___, TO MEAN "PRECISE" |
| Jul 29 | #1144 | ___BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM |
| Jul 28 | #1143 | STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES |
| Jul 27 | #1142 | ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE |
| Jul 26 | #1141 | WHAT "SHELL" MIGHT REFER TO |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Aug 2
Connections #1148 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 2, 2026?
FILLER WORDS: ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO, WELL. BY MEANS OF: BY, PER, THROUGH, VIA. ___ MODE: AIRPLANE, BEAST, DARK, À LA. U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER: ASEA, FLAX, LORD, OLGA.
What was the purple group in Connections #1148?
U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER: ASEA, FLAX, LORD, OLGA.
What made Connections #1148 tricky?
Several small connecting words like LIKE, SO and PER could seem to belong with the casual-speech words or the how-it-was-done words, and the French phrase could also fit the 'in the manner of' idea.