Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for August 13, 2026 (#1159) challenges players to sort 16 words into four groups connected by a common theme. Some links are fairly direct, while the blue and purple categories may require a little more lateral thinking. If you’re stuck but don’t want the answers immediately, the hints below can help you work through each group before revealing the solutions.
The toughest groups in today’s NYT Connections puzzle are likely the airline status perks and the “cold” idioms. Words such as COMFORT, FEET, SHOULDER and TURKEY look unrelated until you realize they can all follow the word “cold.”
NYT Connections hints for August 13
- Yellow: Think of different ways to keep going even when something becomes difficult.
- Green: These verbs can describe moving gradually or carefully toward something.
- Blue: Think about benefits frequent flyers may receive from an airline loyalty program.
- Purple: Each answer can be paired with the same chilly word to create a familiar expression.
Main trap: Several words can fit into more than one everyday context, so it may be tempting to group them by their literal meanings rather than the intended phrases.
Persistence clue: Look for verbs and expressions that mean refusing to stop or continuing toward a goal.
Movement clue: These words describe making progress slowly, often just a little at a time.
Travel clue: Focus on rewards and privileges associated with frequent-flyer or elite airline status.
Wordplay clue: Try putting the word “cold” before each of the remaining answers. Four familiar expressions should appear.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Persevere
Answers: CARRY ON, CONTINUE, MAKE IT, PERSIST
All four answers describe continuing despite difficulty or refusing to give up. You can carry on, continue, make it through a challenge or persist until the task is complete.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Move slowly (up to)
Answers: CREEP, EASE, EDGE, INCH
Each verb can describe approaching or moving toward something gradually. You can creep closer, ease forward, edge toward something or inch your way ahead.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: Airline status perks
Answers: CHECKED BAGS, LOUNGE, MILES, UPGRADE
These are benefits commonly associated with airline loyalty or elite status programs. Travelers may receive free checked bags, access to a lounge, bonus miles or an upgrade to a higher cabin.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: “Cold” things, in idioms
Answers: COMFORT, FEET, SHOULDER, TURKEY
The connection appears when “cold” is placed before each answer: cold comfort, cold feet, cold shoulder and cold turkey. Each is a familiar English expression with a meaning beyond the literal temperature.
Today’s solving lesson: When a Connections group refuses to come together, test whether the remaining words can share the same word before or after them. Purple categories often rely on phrases, idioms or hidden wordplay rather than straightforward definitions.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and review their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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