A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1174
hints & answers for August 28, 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 28, 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
Gentle hint

Things to say when the day is done and everyone is turning in.

Show one word

NIGHT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BEDTIME PARTING WORDS

Reveal all four words
  • NIGHT
  • REST EASY
  • SLEEP TIGHT
  • SWEET DREAMS

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Read each one in both directions.

Show one word

MOM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PALINDROMES

Reveal all four words
  • MOM
  • NOON
  • SIS
  • TOP SPOT

Ignoring spaces, each entry reads the same forwards and backwards.

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

These can attach to other expressions in contemporary slang.

Show one word

BRO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MODERN ADD-ONS/COMBINING FORMS

Reveal all four words
  • BRO
  • CODED
  • ERA
  • MAXXING

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Gentle hint

Four ways to finish the same short expression.

Show one word

HOUR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TOP OF THE ___

Reveal all four words
  • HOUR
  • LINE
  • MORNING
  • POPS

Each follows TOP OF THE: HOUR, LINE, MORNING and POPS.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: BEDTIME PARTING WORDS
  • Green: PALINDROMES
  • Blue: MODERN ADD-ONS/COMBINING FORMS
  • Purple: TOP OF THE ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BEDTIME PARTING WORDS

NIGHT · REST EASY · SLEEP TIGHT · SWEET DREAMS

Green

PALINDROMES

MOM · NOON · SIS · TOP SPOT

Blue

MODERN ADD-ONS/COMBINING FORMS

BRO · CODED · ERA · MAXXING

Purple

TOP OF THE ___

HOUR · LINE · MORNING · POPS

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.