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NYT Connections · #1157

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1157) — August 11, 2026

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“Say any word that looks strangely spelled out loud and listen for what it matches.”

NYT Connections hints for August 11, 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 AYESounds like the organ you see with.
2 BETThe network whose name is also a wager.
3 BRAVOThe network whose name is also praise.
4 DONEFinished in a way that leaves no hope.
5 GOINGThe word that starts the final call.
6 HARESounds like what grows on your head.
7 HISTORYThe network whose name is also the past.
8 KNOWSSounds like what sits in the middle of your face.
9 ONCEThe first of the two quick repeats.
10 SOLDThe word that ends the bidding.
11 SUNKLike a ship that will never rise again.
12 THROUGHPast the point of saving.
13 TOASTThe breakfast item that also means ruined.
14 TUNGSounds like the organ you taste with.
15 TWICEThe second of the two quick repeats.
16 USAThe network whose name is also the country.
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 Lost ships and burnt bread both reach this point.
See Group DOOMED
See WordDONE
See WordSUNK
See WordTHROUGH
See WordTOAST
See Hint Flip to these when looking for unscripted shows.
See Group BASIC CABLE CHANNELS
See WordBET
See WordBRAVO
See WordHISTORY
See WordUSA
See Hint The rhythm of bids rising at a sale.
See Group WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT
See WordGOING
See WordONCE
See WordSOLD
See WordTWICE
See Hint Four spellings that match body parts only by sound.
See Group HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES
See WordAYE
See WordHARE
See WordKNOWS
See WordTUNG
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 HISTORY Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the past or a browser menu, but here the puzzle is using it as a network name, not a record of events.
2 AYE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a vote in favor, but here the puzzle is using how it sounds like a body part, not an agreement.
3 HARE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the rabbit, but here the puzzle is using how it sounds like a body part, not the animal.
4 KNOWS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of understanding something, but here the puzzle is using how it sounds like a body part, not knowledge.
5 TUNG Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the metal element, but here the puzzle is using how it sounds like a body part, not the element.

NYT Connections answers for August 11, 2026

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

Y DOOMED · Yellow · easiest
  • DONE
  • SUNK
  • THROUGH
  • TOAST

DONE, SUNK, THROUGH and TOAST all mean doomed or ruined. TOAST is the one that comes from a breakfast table saying.

G BASIC CABLE CHANNELS · Green · easy
  • BET
  • BRAVO
  • HISTORY
  • USA

BET, BRAVO, HISTORY and USA are all basic cable channels. HISTORY stands out because it shares a name with a common school subject.

B WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT · Blue · medium
  • GOING
  • ONCE
  • SOLD
  • TWICE

GOING, ONCE, SOLD and TWICE are words in an auctioneer's chant. The full phrase builds tension as the price climbs.

P HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES · Purple · hardest
  • AYE
  • HARE
  • KNOWS
  • TUNG

AYE, HARE, KNOWS and TUNG are homophones of facial features. TUNG is the sneakiest — it looks like a metal but sounds like the organ in your mouth.

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