Connections Hint
Puzzle #1158 · August 12, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for August 12, 2026

Start with the spoiler-free hints. Go deeper only when you need to. Reveal answers on your own terms.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026
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Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
BINGGREENOKAYAMAMAINTAINPOISON DARTBENESFINE PRINTHARBORBULLGREAT WHITEGOODBYENURSETREEFOSTERLEMONSCOTT

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These words convey the act of keeping a feeling alive inside.
  • These words evoke a damp, chirping ambiance.
  • These last names feel like they belong to a sitcom cast.
  • These phrases share an invisible bond — ignore what they mean.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • Think about how we talk about holding onto emotions, like a grudge or hope.
  • These are different kinds of a small, hopping amphibian often found near ponds.
  • If you're a fan of classic sitcoms on a certain network, these surnames will click.
  • Notice how these terms start — they all open with a common type of conversational reply.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • These verbs are all synonyms for retaining an emotion, whether positive or negative.
  • This group lists specific types of the same amphibian, identified by color, habitat, or toxicity.
  • These four surnames belong to lead characters from beloved NBC sitcoms, each a different show.
  • Each phrase begins with a common affirmative interjection, turning a simple 'yes' into a compound word.

Today’s Trap Words

The words engineered to mislead

Every Connections board plants a few decoys. Here are today’s, and why they pull you the wrong way.

BULL

Bull shark is a real species; 'Bull' pairs with Great White, Nurse, and Lemon to form a misleading shark category.

GREAT WHITE

Great White shark is iconic; together with Bull, Nurse, and Lemon, these four words masquerade as shark types.

NURSE

Nurse shark is a species; it can distract solvers toward a fake all-shark group with Bull, Great White, and Lemon.

LEMON

Lemon shark exists, and the word itself is also a fruit and color, adding extra misdirection across the board.

Connections Answers — August 12, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
HARBOR · NURSE · FOSTER · MAINTAIN
Tap to reveal
KINDS OF FROGS
TREE · GREEN · BULL · POISON DART
Tap to reveal
NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
LEMON · BING · SCOTT · BENES
Tap to reveal
STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
FINE PRINT · GREAT WHITE · GOODBYE · OKAYAMA
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for August 12, 2026 NYT Pips hints for August 12, 2026 NYT Strands hints for August 12, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1158

Why each group works — not just what it is

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

Foster, Harbor, Maintain, and Nurse all mean to cherish or cling to an emotion, whether it's fostering hope, harboring resentment, maintaining affection, or nursing a grudge. They're straightforward synonyms but tied neatly to internal states.

KINDS OF FROGS

Bull, Green, Poison Dart, and Tree are all specific varieties of frogs. The group is biologically accurate, though 'Poison Dart' might initially read as a weapon; it's actually a vividly colored amphibian.

NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

Benes (Seinfeld), Bing (Friends), Lemon (30 Rock), and Scott (The Office) are last names of iconic NBC sitcom characters. The network link is the hidden thread; recognizing them demands pop culture recall.

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

Fine Print, Goodbye, Great White, and Okayama cleverly hide an affirmative word at the front: fine, good, great, okay. The final word transforms them into common phrases, making this a satisfying wordplay reveal.

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
BING
The surname of Chandler Bing from the TV show Friends; also a type of cherry, but here it's a character's last name.
GREEN
A color between blue and yellow; also a type of frog, the green frog.
OKAYAMA
A city in Japan; the name starts with 'okay,' a casual affirmative, cleverly turning a place into a wordplay element.
MAINTAIN
To continue or preserve a state, like maintaining a friendship or a grudge.
POISON DART
A small, brightly colored frog that secretes toxins; also a weapon, but here it's the amphibian species.
BENES
Elaine Benes, a character from Seinfeld; a distinctive Eastern European surname made famous by the sitcom.
FINE PRINT
The often-overlooked small text in a contract; here, the word 'fine' starts the phrase as a positive interjection.
HARBOR
To keep a thought or feeling, such as resentment, secretly; also a sheltered port, but the verb sense is key.
BULL
A male bovine animal; also a type of frog (bullfrog) and a shark (bull shark), making it a versatile word.
GREAT WHITE
The fearsome great white shark; here, the word 'great' functions as an enthusiastic agreement.
GOODBYE
A parting salutation; the word begins with 'good,' an affirmative response.
NURSE
To care for or hold onto a feeling or injury; also a medical professional, but primarily a verb meaning to nurture something.
TREE
A woody perennial plant; also a type of frog that lives in trees, the tree frog.
FOSTER
To promote the growth or development of something, often feelings, children, or ideas.
LEMON
The last name of Liz Lemon from 30 Rock; also a yellow citrus fruit, a color, and a shark species.
SCOTT
The last name of Michael Scott, the bumbling boss from The Office; a common surname.

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

Wyna Liu constructs a sly shark trap by including BULL, NURSE, GREAT WHITE, and LEMON — all shark species — luring solvers into a false group. The purple wordplay on affirmative beginnings and the blue NBC sitcom surnames require distinct skill sets, blending biology, pop culture, and linguistic awareness. The cross-category overlap makes for a satisfyingly deceptive grid.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
7.2/10
Most deceptive
LEMON

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
Affirmative Starts

requires lateral thinking

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