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NYT Connections · #1148

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1148) — August 2, 2026

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“Sound out the longer words letter by letter to spot hidden codes inside them.”

NYT Connections hints for August 2, 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 ACTUALLYThe plain-vanilla filler that starts many spoken sentences.
2 AIRPLANEThe mode that silences notifications on flights.
3 À LAThe French phrase that means in the style of.
4 ASEAA plus SEA (Seattle airport).
5 BEASTThe mode that describes going all out with effort.
6 BYThe most common everyday word for this idea.
7 DARKYou're probably picturing the absence of light, but here it's part of a common phrase describing a setting.
8 FLAXF plus LAX (Los Angeles airport).
9 LIKEYou're probably thinking of it as similar to or to enjoy, but here the puzzle is using it as a filler word, not a comparison.
10 LORDYou're probably reading it as a noble title, but here it's a letter added to an airport code.
11 OLGAO plus LGA (New York LaGuardia airport).
12 PEROften seen in rates or instructions.
13 SOThe filler that often leads into the main point.
14 THROUGHA longer way to say the same thing.
15 VIAThe Latin borrowing that feels slightly more formal.
16 WELLThe hesitation sound that also begins many spoken answers.
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 Words that pad out speech without adding much.
See Group FILLER WORDS
See WordACTUALLY
See WordLIKE
See WordSO
See WordWELL
See Hint Different ways to indicate the method used.
See Group BY MEANS OF
See WordBY
See WordPER
See WordTHROUGH
See WordVIA
See Hint Phrases that complete a common two-word expression about style or setting.
See Group ___ MODE
See WordAIRPLANE
See WordBEAST
See WordDARK
See WordÀ LA
See Hint Pilot codes hidden inside longer terms.
See Group U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER
See WordASEA
See WordFLAX
See WordLORD
See WordOLGA
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 LIKE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of it as similar to or to enjoy, but here the puzzle is using it as a spoken interjection, not a comparison.
2 DARK Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing the absence of light, but here the puzzle is using it as part of a common phrase describing a setting.
3 BEAST Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a wild animal, but here the puzzle is using it as part of a phrase about intense performance.
4 LORD Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably reading it as a noble title, but here the puzzle is using it as a word built around letters, not a title.

NYT Connections answers for August 2, 2026

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

Y FILLER WORDS · Yellow · easiest
  • ACTUALLY
  • LIKE
  • SO
  • WELL

ACTUALLY, LIKE, SO and WELL are all words used as verbal fillers. WELL is the most reused — it also shows up in other groups across past puzzles.

G BY MEANS OF · Green · easy
  • BY
  • PER
  • THROUGH
  • VIA

BY, PER, THROUGH and VIA are all synonyms for by means of. PER is the shortest and most formal of the four.

B ___ MODE · Blue · medium
  • AIRPLANE
  • BEAST
  • DARK
  • À LA

AIRPLANE, BEAST, DARK and À LA all complete ___ mode. À LA is the only foreign term and the one most likely to trip solvers.

P U.S. AIRPORT CODES PLUS STARTING LETTER · Purple · hardest
  • ASEA
  • FLAX
  • LORD
  • OLGA

ASEA, FLAX, LORD and OLGA are each a U.S. airport code with one added starting letter. LORD is the sneakiest because the title reading feels so natural.

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