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Updated and verified for August 12, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1158

NYT Connections Hints Today (August 12, 2026) + Answers

The August 12, 2026 board combines a literal hold-onto relationship, frog kinds, sitcom surnames and phrases beginning with affirmative responses.

Guide editorMaya BrooksSenior 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 12 Connections Overview

Difficulty descriptions follow only the verified color order. Any overlap described here is a player-facing observation, and no editor intent is inferred.

Overall difficultyYellow, green, blue, then purple in the verified color order.Biggest trapA possible false grouping starts with FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA because each begins with an affirmative-looking word or syllable, but FINE PRINT and GREAT WHITE do not complete the official starting-with-affirmative-responses group without the exact remaining pairings.Best first moveStart with HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN and NURSE all support the official relationship, with MAINTAIN directly meaning to keep something in existence.

Why the board is deceptive

The verified board moves from a yellow hold-onto category to a green frog category, a blue sitcom-surname category and a purple affirmative-response wordplay category.

Several entries invite ordinary-word readings, but the official labels keep each answer set precise: the exact words and category relationships matter more than nearby associations.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Begin with the broad verb set in HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING, then identify the four frog kinds. With those removed, recognize the NBC sitcom surnames; the remaining phrases supply the starting-with-affirmative-responses set.

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.

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELINGReveal this group

What connects FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN and NURSE?

FOSTER · HARBOR · MAINTAIN · NURSE

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING. These four words form the official category HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING. The supplied evidence directly defines MAINTAIN as keeping something in an existing state, while FOSTER can mean promoting growth or development.

Best anchor: The anchor is the shared hold-onto-as-a-feeling relationship.

KINDS OF FROGSReveal this group

What connects BULL, GREEN, POISON DART and TREE?

BULL · GREEN · POISON DART · TREE

KINDS OF FROGS. The official category is KINDS OF FROGS, and the exact source words are BULL, GREEN, POISON DART and TREE. The category relationship is preserved literally without adding a narrower biological claim.

Best anchor: The anchor is the exact official frog-kind category.

NBC SITCOM SURNAMESReveal this group

What connects BENES, BING, LEMON and SCOTT?

BENES · BING · LEMON · SCOTT

NBC SITCOM SURNAMES. The official category is NBC SITCOM SURNAMES, with BENES, BING, LEMON and SCOTT as the four exact words. Their ordinary meanings or other uses do not replace the supplied category relationship.

Best anchor: The anchor is the official sitcom-surname label.

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSESReveal this group

What connects FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA?

FINE PRINT · GOODBYE · GREAT WHITE · OKAYAMA

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES. The official category is STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES. The exact words are FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA; the category concerns their beginnings, not the meanings of the full entries.

Best anchor: The anchor is the exact starting-with-affirmative-responses relationship.

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 guideAugust 12, 2026 Connections: HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELINGExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 12, 2026 Connections: KINDS OF FROGSExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 12, 2026 Connections: NBC SITCOM SURNAMESExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 12, 2026 Connections: STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSESExplain 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
    HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

    The anchor is the shared hold-onto-as-a-feeling relationship.

  2. 2
    KINDS OF FROGS

    The anchor is the exact official frog-kind category.

  3. 3
    NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

    The anchor is the official sitcom-surname label.

  4. 4
    STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

    The anchor is the exact starting-with-affirmative-responses relationship.

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 HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN and NURSE all support the official relationship, with MAINTAIN directly meaning to keep something in existence..

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 groupHOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: The anchor is the shared hold-onto-as-a-feeling relationship.
Green groupKINDS OF FROGS
KINDS OF FROGS: The anchor is the exact official frog-kind category.
Blue groupNBC SITCOM SURNAMES
NBC SITCOM SURNAMES: The anchor is the official sitcom-surname label.
Purple groupSTARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES: The anchor is the exact starting-with-affirmative-responses relationship.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideMaintain Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideBing Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideGoodbye 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

Maya Brooks

Maya focuses on exact category logic, ambiguous overlaps and hints that help without giving the group away.

Read Maya’s profile →