A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1149
hints & answers for August 3, 2026

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows August 3, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, B, B and L. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

ALLEY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

Reveal all four words
  • ALLEY
  • BACKSTREET
  • BYWAY
  • LANE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Look along a leafy section of a paint chart.

Show one word

FOREST belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SHADES OF GREEN

Reveal all four words
  • FOREST
  • HUNTER
  • MINT
  • SAGE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, M, N and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FLY BY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

"Y" IS THE ONLY VOWEL

Reveal all four words
  • FLY BY
  • MYRRH
  • NSYNC
  • RHYTHM

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, N, N and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUG FIX belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "PESTER"

Reveal all four words
  • BUG FIX
  • NAG CHAMPA
  • NEEDLESS
  • TEA SET
Show categories only
  • Yellow: ROAD LESS TRAVELED
  • Green: SHADES OF GREEN
  • Blue: "Y" IS THE ONLY VOWEL
  • Purple: STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "PESTER"

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ROAD LESS TRAVELED

ALLEY · BACKSTREET · BYWAY · LANE

Green

SHADES OF GREEN

FOREST · HUNTER · MINT · SAGE

Blue

"Y" IS THE ONLY VOWEL

FLY BY · MYRRH · NSYNC · RHYTHM

Purple

STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "PESTER"

BUG FIX · NAG CHAMPA · NEEDLESS · TEA SET

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.