Play Connections #1155
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 #1155 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
Think of what you do when your current plan isn't working and you need to adjust.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These are storybook staples that generations of kids grew up reading.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one is a niche flavor within a bigger film category.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each is a predicament you would probably rather dodge or leave behind.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several entries sound like fiction titles or settings, so a famous film or story name could lure you into the wrong group.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH
- CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS
- MOVIE SUBGENRES
- THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF
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Difficulty: Medium. The fiction-flavored entries overlap across categories and one group is quite loose, but the strategy-adjusting phrases are easy to spot.
Connections #1155 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 9, 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
CHANGE TACK is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
Show all four words
CHANGE TACK, COURSE-CORRECT, RECALIBRATE, SHIFT GEARS
Show one word
CAPS FOR SALE is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS.
Show all four words
CAPS FOR SALE, CORDUROY, GOODNIGHT MOON, MADELINE
Show one word
BUDDY COP is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is MOVIE SUBGENRES.
Show all four words
BUDDY COP, NEO-NOIR, SPACE OPERA, SPAGHETTI WESTERN
Show one word
BAD DREAM is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF.
Show all four words
BAD DREAM, ESCAPE ROOM, JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CHANGE TACK: A sailing phrase for altering your direction or strategy.
- COURSE-CORRECT: Adjust your path after noticing you've drifted off target.
- RECALIBRATE: Reset or fine-tune your method to get better results.
- SHIFT GEARS: Switch to a new mode or strategy.
- CAPS FOR SALE: Picture book about a peddler and mischievous monkeys.
- CORDUROY: Beloved bear in green overalls waiting in a department store.
- GOODNIGHT MOON: Bedtime classic that says good night to everything in the room.
- MADELINE: Series about a brave little girl in a Paris boarding school.
- BUDDY COP: Action-comedy where mismatched partners team up on the job.
- NEO-NOIR: Modern take on dark, moody crime stories.
- SPACE OPERA: Epic sci-fi adventure with big battles among the stars.
- SPAGHETTI WESTERN: Italian-made frontier films, like those starring Clint Eastwood.
Purple group explained
- BAD DREAM: You try to wake up from a nightmare.
- ESCAPE ROOM: A puzzle game where the goal is to find your way out.
- JURY DUTY: Many people try to get excused from a summons.
- LABYRINTH: A maze you want to find your way out of.
What does CORDUROY mean?
A sturdy cotton fabric with raised parallel ridges, often used for pants and jackets. Here it is also the name of a teddy bear in a classic children's book who loses a button from his overalls.
What does NEO-NOIR mean?
A modern take on classic film noir, with moody visuals, morally murky characters, crime, and cynicism, but using newer styles, color, and themes. Examples include Chinatown and Blade Runner.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 8 | #1154 | SAFETY ___ |
| Aug 7 | #1153 | STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS |
| 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 |
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 9
Connections #1155 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 9, 2026?
TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH: CHANGE TACK, COURSE-CORRECT, RECALIBRATE, SHIFT GEARS. CLASSIC CHILDREN'S BOOKS: CAPS FOR SALE, CORDUROY, GOODNIGHT MOON, MADELINE. MOVIE SUBGENRES: BUDDY COP, NEO-NOIR, SPACE OPERA, SPAGHETTI WESTERN. THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF: BAD DREAM, ESCAPE ROOM, JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH.
What was the purple group in Connections #1155?
THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF: BAD DREAM, ESCAPE ROOM, JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH.
What made Connections #1155 tricky?
Several entries sound like fiction titles or settings, so a famous film or story name could lure you into the wrong group.