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Verified archive for August 11, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1157

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 11, 2026

The August 11, 2026 board mixes trouble-language, television-channel names, auction language, and sound-alike spellings of facial features. The exact category titles provide the key to separating them.

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

August 11, 2026 Connections overview

This bundle preserves the four official category titles and source words literally. Difficulty language is tied to the verified color order; overlap is described as a player-facing possibility, not as editor intent.

Overall difficultyThe verified color order places DOOMED in yellow, BASIC CABLE CHANNELS in green, WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT in blue, and HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES in purple.Biggest trapSeveral entries support familiar standalone meanings, so test whether a possible set matches the exact source category rather than a broader association.Best first moveStart with the compact sequence ONCE, TWICE, GOING, and SOLD; read them as words in an auctioneer's chant before using the remaining board.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow group is DOOMED, while the green group is BASIC CABLE CHANNELS, according to the verified source.

The blue and purple groups are WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT and HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES, respectively.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Look first for the sequence that reads naturally as auction language, then identify the four channel names. With those removed, the trouble-related words form DOOMED and the remaining sound-alike spellings complete the facial-features group.

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.

DOOMEDReveal this group

What connects DONE, SUNK, THROUGH and TOAST?

DONE · SUNK · THROUGH · TOAST

DOOMED. DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, and TOAST all fit the official DOOMED category in the puzzle's intended senses.

Best anchor: The trouble-language set is DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, TOAST.

BASIC CABLE CHANNELSReveal this group

What connects BET, BRAVO, HISTORY and USA?

BET · BRAVO · HISTORY · USA

BASIC CABLE CHANNELS. BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, and USA are the four entries assigned by the source to BASIC CABLE CHANNELS.

Best anchor: Read BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, USA as channel names.

WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANTReveal this group

What connects GOING, ONCE, SOLD and TWICE?

GOING · ONCE · SOLD · TWICE

WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT. GOING, ONCE, SOLD, and TWICE are the exact four words listed under WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT.

Best anchor: The sequence is GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE.

HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURESReveal this group

What connects AYE, HARE, KNOWS and TUNG?

AYE · HARE · KNOWS · TUNG

HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES. AYE, HARE, KNOWS, and TUNG are the four source entries in HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES; the category is about their sound-alike referents.

Best anchor: The final sound-alike set is AYE, HARE, KNOWS, TUNG.

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 DONE, SUNK, THROUGH and TOAST Mean DOOMEDExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow BET, BRAVO, HISTORY and USA Are BASIC CABLE CHANNELSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow GOING, ONCE, SOLD and TWICE Fit an Auctioneer's ChantExplain this connection Supporting clue guideHow AYE, HARE, KNOWS and TUNG Hide Facial FeaturesExplain 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
    DOOMED

    The trouble-language set is DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, TOAST.

  2. 2
    BASIC CABLE CHANNELS

    Read BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, USA as channel names.

  3. 3
    WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT

    The sequence is GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE.

  4. 4
    HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES

    The final sound-alike set is AYE, HARE, KNOWS, TUNG.

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 the compact sequence ONCE, TWICE, GOING, and SOLD; read them as words in an auctioneer's chant before using the remaining board..

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 groupDOOMED
DOOMED: The trouble-language set is DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, TOAST.
Green groupBASIC CABLE CHANNELS
BASIC CABLE CHANNELS: Read BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, USA as channel names.
Blue groupWORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT
WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT: The sequence is GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE.
Purple groupHOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES
HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES: The final sound-alike set is AYE, HARE, KNOWS, TUNG.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideSunk Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideThrough Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideToast Meaning

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 →