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NYT Connections · #1147

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1147) — August 1, 2026

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“Check whether any of the words can be split into a shorter common word plus an ending before grouping the rest.SHAM, SHEET and THROW appeared together in Connections #955 (Jan 21, 2026). They were part of bedding items then too.”

NYT Connections hints for August 1, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 BALEThe Welsh actor who played Batman in three films.
2 BOREYou're probably thinking of making someone weary, but here it's a machining step that enlarges a hole.
3 BOULEVARDStarts with BOULE, a round French bread loaf.
4 BUNDLEStarts with BUN, the small round bread roll.
5 COMFORTERA thick, warm layer that tops the bed.
6 COUNTERSINKTo create a conical recess so a screw head sits flush.
7 DRILLThe most familiar action of making a round hole with a rotating bit.
8 JORDANThe actor known for his role in Black Panther.
9 LOAFERYou're probably thinking of a shoe or lazy person, but here it starts with LOAF.
10 PHOENIXThe actor who won for playing the title role in Joker.
11 REAMTo finish and smooth the inside of an existing hole.
12 ROLLS-ROYCEStarts with ROLLS, the small round bread items.
13 SHAMYou're probably thinking of something fake, but here it's a decorative pillow cover.
14 SHEETThe flat bottom layer that tucks under the mattress.
15 THROWYou're probably thinking of tossing something, but here it's a light decorative blanket.
16 WALTZThe Austrian actor who won for his role in Inglourious Basterds.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint Items that help make a bed comfortable and neat.
See Group BEDDING
See WordCOMFORTER
See WordSHAM
See WordSHEET
See WordTHROW
See Hint Names of people who have taken home a golden statuette recently.
See Group OSCAR-WINNING ACTORS SINCE 2010
See WordBALE
See WordJORDAN
See WordPHOENIX
See WordWALTZ
See Hint Actions that create or enlarge holes in metal or wood.
See Group PERFORM SOME HOLE MACHINING OPERATIONS
See WordBORE
See WordCOUNTERSINK
See WordDRILL
See WordREAM
See Hint Words whose first syllable names something baked and sliced.
See Group STARTING WITH BREAD SHAPES
See WordBOULEVARD
See WordBUNDLE
See WordLOAFER
See WordROLLS-ROYCE
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 SHAM Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of something fake or bogus, but here the puzzle is using it as a noun for a pillow cover, not the deceptive sense.
2 THROW Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of tossing or hurling an object, but here the puzzle is using it as a noun for a type of blanket, not the action.
3 LOAFER Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a lazy person or a casual shoe, but here the puzzle is using it as a word whose initial segment is key, not the everyday meaning.

NYT Connections answers for August 1, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y BEDDING · Yellow · easiest
  • COMFORTER
  • SHAM
  • SHEET
  • THROW

COMFORTER, SHAM, SHEET and THROW are all types of bedding. SHAM is the sneakiest because most solvers first read it as something false before the bedding sense appears.

G OSCAR-WINNING ACTORS SINCE 2010 · Green · easy
  • BALE
  • JORDAN
  • PHOENIX
  • WALTZ

BALE, JORDAN, PHOENIX and WALTZ are all actors who won Oscars since 2010. JORDAN is the most ambiguous because the name points to multiple famous people before the acting connection locks in.

B PERFORM SOME HOLE MACHINING OPERATIONS · Blue · medium
  • BORE
  • COUNTERSINK
  • DRILL
  • REAM

BORE, COUNTERSINK, DRILL and REAM are all hole-machining operations. BORE is the trickiest because it also reads as a common verb meaning to make someone weary.

P STARTING WITH BREAD SHAPES · Purple · hardest
  • BOULEVARD
  • BUNDLE
  • LOAFER
  • ROLLS-ROYCE

BOULEVARD, BUNDLE, LOAFER and ROLLS-ROYCE all start with bread shapes. LOAFER is the sneakiest because most solvers read it first as a shoe or a lazy person before the bread prefix appears.

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