Play Connections #1153
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 #1153 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 ingredients and pieces that make up a cozy, glowing light source.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each of these is associated with very low temperatures.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are the pieces that help a ride move people between floors of a building.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Look at the first few letters of each answer to spot a hidden masculine critter.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
MOTOR and SHAFT sound like general machinery, and a fridge is an appliance with a motor too, so the mechanical group can feel bigger than it is.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE
- COLD THINGS
- PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR
- STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS
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Difficulty: Medium. Three groups are fairly straightforward, but the last one hides its theme inside the opening letters of unrelated-looking words.
Connections #1153 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 7, 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
FRAGRANCE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE.
Show all four words
FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX, WICK
Show one word
LIQUID NITROGEN is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is COLD THINGS.
Show all four words
LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW, SUNDAE
Show one word
BUTTONS is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR.
Show all four words
BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR, SHAFT
Show one word
BUCKYBALL is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS.
Show all four words
BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO, TOMATILLO
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- FRAGRANCE: Scent added to the wax so it smells nice
- JAR: Glass container holding the wax
- WAX: Main body that melts and burns
- WICK: String that carries the flame
- LIQUID NITROGEN: Super-chilled substance far below freezing
- REFRIGERATOR: Kitchen appliance that keeps food chilled
- SNOW: Frozen winter precipitation
- SUNDAE: Frozen ice cream dessert
- BUTTONS: Riders press them to choose a floor
- CABLES: Steel ropes that lift and lower the car
- MOTOR: Machine that powers the movement
- SHAFT: Vertical passage the car travels through
Purple group explained
- BUCKYBALL: Starts with BUCK, a male deer
- JACKPOT: Starts with JACK, a male donkey
- RAMBO: Starts with RAM, a male sheep
- TOMATILLO: Starts with TOM, a male cat or turkey
What does BUCKYBALL mean?
A hollow, soccer-ball-shaped molecule made of 60 carbon atoms, formally called buckminsterfullerene and named after architect Buckminster Fuller. In the puzzle, it begins with BUCK, a male deer.
What does TOMATILLO mean?
A small green fruit wrapped in a papery husk, widely used in Mexican cooking, especially in salsa verde. It tastes tart and tangy. In the puzzle, it begins with TOM, a male cat or turkey.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 6 | #1152 | PLACES WITH NETS |
| Aug 5 | #1151 | WHAT "STOCK" MIGHT REFER TO |
| Aug 4 | #1150 | V-SHAPED THINGS |
| Aug 3 | #1149 | STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "PESTER" |
| Aug 2 | #1148 | U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER |
| Aug 1 | #1147 | STARTING WITH BREAD SHAPES |
| Jul 31 | #1146 | STARTING WITH MERRIMENTS |
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 7
Connections #1153 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 7, 2026?
COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE: FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX, WICK. COLD THINGS: LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW, SUNDAE. PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR: BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR, SHAFT. STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS: BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO, TOMATILLO.
What was the purple group in Connections #1153?
STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS: BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO, TOMATILLO.
What made Connections #1153 tricky?
MOTOR and SHAFT sound like general machinery, and a fridge is an appliance with a motor too, so the mechanical group can feel bigger than it is.