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Verified archive for August 4, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1150

NYT Connections #1150 Hints & Answers (August 4, 2026)

Connections puzzle No. 1150 for August 4, 2026 moves from a shared physical form to a city-sight set, then pedals, and finally four different V-shaped referents.

Guide editorEthan ParkEditor

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4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

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Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

August 4, 2026 puzzle explained

August 4, 2026 Connections overview

The official solution is ordered yellow, green, blue, and purple. Explanations preserve the published relationships without narrowing what each item does or why it belongs.

Overall difficultyA four-step progression from the yellow group through the purple group, following the verified color order.Biggest trapSeveral entries can prompt broad object, place, transportation, or shape associations, so a tentative set should be checked against all four words before submission.Best first moveStart with CIGARETTE, FOAM ROLLER, POOL NOODLE, and PRETZEL ROD, checking only their shared long cylindrical form rather than their unrelated uses.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow and purple groups are both visual, but one concerns a long cylindrical form while the other concerns a V shape.

The middle groups separate familiar New York City sights from four different things that share the literal presence of pedals.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Confirm the four long cylindrical entries first, then isolate the four iconic NYC sights. From the remaining eight, collect the things with pedals before resolving the final four as V-shaped things.

Spoilers below

August 4, 2026 groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Shared elongated formReveal this group

What connects CIGARETTE, FOAM ROLLER, POOL NOODLE and PRETZEL ROD?

CIGARETTE · FOAM ROLLER · POOL NOODLE · PRETZEL ROD

LONG CYLINDRICAL THINGS. Each entry belongs to the official set of LONG CYLINDRICAL THINGS, regardless of the objects’ otherwise unrelated contexts.

Best anchor: Compare overall form rather than purpose or material.

New York City sceneReveal this group

What connects BODEGA, PIGEON, SUBWAY STATION and TAXI CAB?

BODEGA · PIGEON · SUBWAY STATION · TAXI CAB

ICONIC NYC SIGHTS. The four entries share the official relationship ICONIC NYC SIGHTS: BODEGA, PIGEON, SUBWAY STATION, and TAXI CAB.

Best anchor: Use the complete phrases, especially SUBWAY STATION and TAXI CAB.

A shared featureReveal this group

What connects PIANO, SEWING MACHINE, SWAN BOAT and UNICYCLE?

PIANO · SEWING MACHINE · SWAN BOAT · UNICYCLE

THINGS WITH PEDALS. These otherwise different entries satisfy the literal category THINGS WITH PEDALS without requiring them to have the same purpose.

Best anchor: Ask what feature all four things have, not what they are used for.

A repeated outlineReveal this group

What connects ANGLE BRACKET, CHEVRON, GOOSE FORMATION and PEACE SIGN?

ANGLE BRACKET · CHEVRON · GOOSE FORMATION · PEACE SIGN

V-SHAPED THINGS. Each exact referent fits the official V-SHAPED THINGS category: an angle bracket, a chevron mark, a goose formation, and the two-finger peace sign.

Best anchor: For PEACE SIGN, use the two-finger gesture as the V-shaped referent.

August 4, 2026 supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideWhy These Are Long Cylindrical ThingsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy These Are Iconic NYC SightsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy These Are Things With PedalsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy These Are V-Shaped ThingsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use this puzzle’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    LONG CYLINDRICAL THINGS

    Compare overall form rather than purpose or material.

  2. 2
    ICONIC NYC SIGHTS

    Use the complete phrases, especially SUBWAY STATION and TAXI CAB.

  3. 3
    THINGS WITH PEDALS

    Ask what feature all four things have, not what they are used for.

  4. 4
    V-SHAPED THINGS

    For PEACE SIGN, use the two-finger gesture as the V-shaped referent.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

This puzzle’s best first move: Start with CIGARETTE, FOAM ROLLER, POOL NOODLE, and PRETZEL ROD, checking only their shared long cylindrical form rather than their unrelated uses..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Yellow, the first tier in the verified color order. groupShared elongated form
LONG CYLINDRICAL THINGS: Compare overall form rather than purpose or material.
Green, the second tier in the verified color order. groupNew York City scene
ICONIC NYC SIGHTS: Use the complete phrases, especially SUBWAY STATION and TAXI CAB.
Blue, the third tier in the verified color order. groupA shared feature
THINGS WITH PEDALS: Ask what feature all four things have, not what they are used for.
Purple, the fourth tier in the verified color order. groupA repeated outline
V-SHAPED THINGS: For PEACE SIGN, use the two-finger gesture as the V-shaped referent.

Language background

Useful guides for this puzzle’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Language guideBodega Meaning: The Urban Shop Sense Explained

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideChevron Meaning: The V-Shaped Mark Explained

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Questions about this puzzle

What makes Connections #1150 tricky?

Several entries can prompt broad object, place, transportation, or shape associations, so a tentative set should be checked against all four words before submission.

Where should I start with the August 4, 2026 puzzle?

Start with CIGARETTE, FOAM ROLLER, POOL NOODLE, and PRETZEL ROD, checking only their shared long cylindrical form rather than their unrelated uses.

About the guide editor

Ethan Park

Ethan turns word patterns and solving routes into concise, accessible guidance for daily players.

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