Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for August 15, 2026, #1161 has some clever wordplay, especially in the units of length group and the set involving synonyms for secretly following someone.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has some clever misdirection, especially in the units of length group and the set involving synonyms for secretly following someone. The yellow category is more straightforward: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT and WORN OUT are all familiar ways to describe being completely exhausted.
NYT Connections hints for August 15
- Yellow: Think about different ways of saying you have absolutely no energy left.
- Green: Each word can describe one portion or section of something larger.
- Blue: Do not focus on the meaning of the complete word. Look at the ending and think about measurements of length.
- Purple: Again, concentrate on the ending of each word. This time, think about words connected with secretly following someone.
Main trap: The blue and purple answers can look completely unrelated when read as full words. Today’s trick is to break those words apart and examine what is hiding at the end.
Tired clue: Look for four words that could all describe someone who is completely exhausted.
Section clue: Find four words that can refer to a segment, portion or distinct part of a longer process, journey or activity.
Measurement clue: Four answers contain familiar units of length at their ends. Ignore the beginning of each word and see what remains.
Spying clue: The final four answers end with words that can mean to follow someone secretly or keep watch on their movements.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Exhausted
Answers: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT
All four answers are familiar ways to describe being completely exhausted. Someone can say they are beat after a long day, fried after mentally draining work, spent when their energy is gone, or simply worn out when they need some rest.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Segment
Answers: LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH
Each word can refer to a part or segment of something larger. A leg can be one section of a journey or race, a phase is a distinct period in a process, a stage marks a particular step or period, and a stretch can describe a portion of a route or span of time.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: Ending in units of length
Answers: CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD
The connection is hidden at the end of each answer. Chamomile ends in mile, Grinch ends in inch, hotfoot ends in foot, and lanyard ends in yard. All four hidden endings are familiar units used to measure length.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: Ending in synonyms for follow secretly
Answers: BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, SOUNDTRACK
These answers use the same word-ending trick, but the hidden terms describe ways of following or observing someone. Beanstalk ends in stalk, eyeshadow ends in shadow, hightail ends in tail, and soundtrack ends in track. Each of those ending words can be associated with secretly following or monitoring someone.
Today’s solving lesson: When several Connections answers appear to have almost nothing in common, try looking inside the words rather than only considering their definitions. The August 15 puzzle makes that especially important, with both of its hardest categories depending on meaningful words hidden at the ends of longer answers.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and check their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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