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Verified archive for August 7, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1153

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 7, 2026

Connections #1153 for August 7, 2026 combines two component-based categories, a set of cold things and a final group determined by the beginnings of four words.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

Start here

Take one step at a time

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

Need more than a hint?

Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

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.

Today’s puzzle explained

Connections #1153 board overview

The verified puzzle was edited by Wyna Liu. The official categories use two literal component relationships, one descriptive relationship and one word-opening relationship.

Overall difficultyThe progression runs from concrete components through a spelling-based purple relationship.Biggest trapSeveral words can suggest broad object or machinery vocabulary, but those loose associations do not produce the four exact official relationships.Best first moveStart with FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK. All four satisfy the literal category COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE, creating a firm first group without narrowing the relationship.

Why the board is deceptive

The board includes concrete nouns, a two-word scientific term and several words whose openings matter more than their complete meanings.

A reliable route is to separate the candle and elevator components before testing the remaining words for temperature and spelling patterns.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Remove FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK as COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE, then identify BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR and SHAFT as PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR. The remaining eight divide into COLD THINGS and words STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS.

Spoilers below

Today’s 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.

Candle componentsReveal this group

What connects FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK?

FRAGRANCE · JAR · WAX · WICK

COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE. FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK are the four entries in the official category COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE.

Best anchor: WAX and WICK provide a useful pair for testing this literal component relationship.

Cold thingsReveal this group

What connects LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW and SUNDAE?

LIQUID NITROGEN · REFRIGERATOR · SNOW · SUNDAE

COLD THINGS. LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW and SUNDAE form the official descriptive category COLD THINGS.

Best anchor: SNOW and SUNDAE help reveal that the relationship is descriptive rather than structural.

Elevator partsReveal this group

What connects BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR and SHAFT?

BUTTONS · CABLES · MOTOR · SHAFT

PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR. BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR and SHAFT are the four entries in the official category PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR.

Best anchor: BUTTONS and SHAFT can anchor the exact elevator relationship before submitting.

Male-animal openingsReveal this group

What connects BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO and TOMATILLO?

BUCKYBALL · JACKPOT · RAMBO · TOMATILLO

STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS. BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO and TOMATILLO begin with BUCK, JACK, RAM and TOM, matching STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS.

Best anchor: Ignore the complete-word meanings and compare BUCK, JACK, RAM and TOM.

Today’s 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 FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK Are Candle ComponentsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy LIQUID NITROGEN, REFRIGERATOR, SNOW and SUNDAE Are Cold ThingsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideWhy BUTTONS, CABLES, MOTOR and SHAFT Are Elevator PartsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow BUCKYBALL, JACKPOT, RAMBO and TOMATILLO Start With Male AnimalsExplain 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 today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE

    WAX and WICK provide a useful pair for testing this literal component relationship.

  2. 2
    COLD THINGS

    SNOW and SUNDAE help reveal that the relationship is descriptive rather than structural.

  3. 3
    PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR

    BUTTONS and SHAFT can anchor the exact elevator relationship before submitting.

  4. 4
    STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS

    Ignore the complete-word meanings and compare BUCK, JACK, RAM and TOM.

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.

Today’s best first move: Start with FRAGRANCE, JAR, WAX and WICK. All four satisfy the literal category COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE, creating a firm first group without narrowing the relationship..

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 group in the verified color order. groupCandle components
COMPONENTS OF A CANDLE: WAX and WICK provide a useful pair for testing this literal component relationship.
Green, the second group in the verified color order. groupCold things
COLD THINGS: SNOW and SUNDAE help reveal that the relationship is descriptive rather than structural.
Blue, the third group in the verified color order. groupElevator parts
PARTS OF AN ELEVATOR: BUTTONS and SHAFT can anchor the exact elevator relationship before submitting.
Purple, the fourth group in the verified color order. groupMale-animal openings
STARTING WITH MALE ANIMALS: Ignore the complete-word meanings and compare BUCK, JACK, RAM and TOM.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideSundae Meaning: Definition, Spelling and Connections Use

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

Read the language guide Language guideBuckyball Meaning: Fullerene Definition and Connections Use

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

Read the language guide Language guideTomatillo Meaning: Definition, Spanish Sense and Puzzle Use

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

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Nora Bennett

An editor focused on spoiler-conscious daily puzzle guides and plain-English solving explanations.

Read Nora’s profile →