Play Connections #1158
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 #1158 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 keeping an emotion alive and nurturing it inside you.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Amphibians you might hear croaking near a pond or in a rainforest.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Last names of characters from beloved network comedies, including a coffee-shop crowd and a newsroom-style workplace.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Look at how each answer begins, since the opening word is a way of agreeing or saying all is well.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words here are also types of sharks, which can tempt you to build a group around the ocean.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
- KINDS OF FROGS
- NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
- STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
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Difficulty: Hard. One group hides its link in the first word of each answer, and another needs you to recall TV characters by last name only.
Connections #1158 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 12, 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
FOSTER is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING.
Show all four words
FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE
Show one word
BULL is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF FROGS.
Show all four words
BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE
Show one word
BENES is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is NBC SITCOM SURNAMES.
Show all four words
BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT
Show one word
FINE PRINT is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES.
Show all four words
FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- FOSTER: To foster a feeling is to encourage and keep it alive.
- HARBOR: You can harbor a grudge or hope, meaning keep it inside.
- MAINTAIN: To maintain a feeling is to keep it going.
- NURSE: You can nurse a grudge or resentment for a long time.
- BULL: The bullfrog is a large, loud North American frog.
- GREEN: The green frog is a common pond species.
- POISON DART: Brightly colored, toxic rainforest frogs.
- TREE: Tree frogs have sticky toes for climbing.
- BENES: Elaine Benes is a main character on Seinfeld.
- BING: Chandler Bing is a main character on Friends.
- LEMON: Liz Lemon is the lead character on 30 Rock.
- SCOTT: Michael Scott is the boss on The Office.
Purple group explained
- FINE PRINT: Starts with FINE, a way of saying okay.
- GOODBYE: Starts with GOOD, an affirmative reply.
- GREAT WHITE: Starts with GREAT, an enthusiastic yes.
- OKAYAMA: Starts with OKAY, a classic yes. Okayama is a Japanese city.
What does OKAYAMA mean?
A city in western Japan, the capital of Okayama Prefecture, known for Korakuen, one of the country's famous gardens. In the puzzle, it starts with OKAY, an affirmative response.
What does BENES mean?
Ross Benes is not the one meant here. This is Ben Benes, no, rather Chandler Bing's friend Joey's co-star Rachel? Actually it is Elaine Benes, the sharp-tongued friend on Seinfeld, an NBC sitcom.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 11 | #1157 | HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES |
| Aug 10 | #1156 | FAMOUS GOATEES |
| Aug 9 | #1155 | THINGS PEOPLE TRY TO GET OUT OF |
| 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 |
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 12
Connections #1158 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 12, 2026?
HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE. KINDS OF FROGS: BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE. NBC SITCOM SURNAMES: BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT. STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES: FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA.
What was the purple group in Connections #1158?
STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES: FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA.
What made Connections #1158 tricky?
Several words here are also types of sharks, which can tempt you to build a group around the ocean.