Connections archive · Puzzle #1158

NYT Connections Hints & Answers — August 12, 2026 (#1158)

Group hints and answers for the NYT Connections puzzle on . Get a spoiler-free nudge for each group, or reveal the full solution — your call.

Difficulty: Hard

Spoiler control

Choose how much to reveal

Reveal one step at a time — nudges first, full answers only if you ask.

1. Group nudges spoiler-free
  • Yellow: Ways to keep an emotion or grudge close instead of letting it go.
  • Green: Named varieties of amphibians — from backyard ponds to rainforests.
  • Blue: Last names of characters from classic NBC comedies.
  • Purple: Phrases or places that begin with a yes-word (fine, good, great, okay).
2. One word from each group a foothold
  • Yellow: FOSTER
  • Green: BULL
  • Blue: BENES
  • Purple: FINE PRINT
3. The four category names no words yet
  • Yellow: HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
  • Green: KINDS OF FROGS
  • Blue: NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
  • Purple: STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES
4. Reveal groups one by one
Yellow group

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

  • FOSTER
  • HARBOR
  • MAINTAIN
  • NURSE
Green group

KINDS OF FROGS

  • BULL
  • GREEN
  • POISON DART
  • TREE
Blue group

NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

  • BENES
  • BING
  • LEMON
  • SCOTT
Purple group

STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

  • FINE PRINT
  • GOODBYE
  • GREAT WHITE
  • OKAYAMA
5. Reveal everything full spoilers

Yellow — HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING

  • FOSTER
  • HARBOR
  • MAINTAIN
  • NURSE

Green — KINDS OF FROGS

  • BULL
  • GREEN
  • POISON DART
  • TREE

Blue — NBC SITCOM SURNAMES

  • BENES
  • BING
  • LEMON
  • SCOTT

Purple — STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

  • FINE PRINT
  • GOODBYE
  • GREAT WHITE
  • OKAYAMA

Today's puzzle, in a nutshell

Frog kinds and sitcom surnames are fair once they surface. Purple's yes-words fused onto other stems (FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA) is the tricky closer.

NYT Connections #1158 — quick answers

What are today's Connections categories?

HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING; KINDS OF FROGS; NBC SITCOM SURNAMES; STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES.

What are all the answers?
  • HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE
  • KINDS OF FROGS: BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE
  • NBC SITCOM SURNAMES: BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT
  • STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES: FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA

Also for: Connections hints 8/12/26, 8-12-26, 8 12 26, 8/12/2026, and puzzle #1158.

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