If you played the NYT Connections puzzle on August 12, 2026 (#1158) and wondered what each word actually means, this guide breaks down the definition and meaning of all 16 words. Whether you cracked the grid or came looking afterward, understanding the vocabulary behind FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE, BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE, BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT, FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA makes the whole puzzle click into place.
Below you'll find every word defined and organized by its Connections category, so you can see exactly why each answer belongs where it does. If you want gentle nudges instead of spoilers for future games, check our daily NYT Connections hints and answers hub.
- 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
All 16 NYT Connections Words for August 12, 2026 (#1158)
The 16 words in today's grid were: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE, BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE, BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT, FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA. In Connections, you sort these 16 words into four groups of four. Today they split into verbs for nurturing emotions, types of frogs, last names from NBC sitcoms, and words or phrases that begin with an affirmative response hidden inside them.
Hold Onto, As a Feeling: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE
These four words all function as verbs meaning to nurture, keep alive, or hold onto a feeling or emotion over time.
FOSTER (Meaning)
Foster means to encourage, promote, or nurture the growth or development of something. When applied to emotions, "to foster a feeling" means to deliberately cultivate and sustain that emotion — such as fostering hope, ambition, or goodwill. It comes from the Old English fōstrian, meaning to nourish or rear.
HARBOR (Meaning)
Harbor as a noun refers to a sheltered body of water where ships dock. As a verb, it means to keep or hold a thought, feeling, or secret internally — often used with negative emotions such as "harbor resentment," "harbor a grudge," or "harbor suspicions."
MAINTAIN (Meaning)
Maintain means to keep in an existing state, preserve, or sustain over time. When applied to emotions, "to maintain composure," "maintain hope," or "maintain one's dignity" all describe actively holding onto a feeling or state of mind despite challenges.
NURSE (Meaning)
Nurse as a noun refers to a healthcare professional who cares for patients. As a verb, it means to tend carefully, nurture, or hold onto something gently over time — such as "nurse a grudge," "nurse a drink," or "nurse wounded pride." In today's puzzle, the verb sense is what connects it to this category.
Kinds of Frogs: BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE
Each of these four words precedes "frog" to form the name of a real frog species or type found in nature.
BULL (Meaning)
A bull is an adult male bovine animal. A bullfrog is a large North American frog (Lithobates catesbeianus) named for the male's deep, resonant bellowing call that resembles a bull's roar. It is one of the largest frog species in North America.
GREEN (Meaning)
Green is a color between blue and yellow on the visible spectrum. A green frog (Rana clamitans) is a common frog species found throughout eastern North America, recognizable by its distinctive green coloration and prominent tympanic membrane.
POISON DART (Meaning)
A poison dart frog belongs to the family Dendrobatidae, a group of brightly colored, highly toxic frogs native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Indigenous peoples historically used their skin secretions to poison the tips of blowdarts for hunting.
TREE (Meaning)
A tree is a perennial woody plant with a trunk, branches, and leaves. A tree frog is any frog from the family Hylidae that spends most of its life in trees or elevated vegetation, possessing specialized adhesive toe pads for climbing.
NBC Sitcom Surnames: BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT
These four words are last names of beloved main characters from iconic NBC sitcoms.
BENES (Meaning)
Benes is the surname of Elaine Benes, a main character on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld (1989–1998), played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Elaine is known for her sharp wit, distinctive dance moves, and on-again-off-again relationship with Jerry.
BING (Meaning)
Bing is the surname of Chandler Bing, a main character on the NBC sitcom Friends (1994–2004), played by Matthew Perry. Chandler is famous for his sarcastic humor and the catchphrase "Could this BE any more...?"
LEMON (Meaning)
Lemon is a yellow citrus fruit, but in television it is the surname of Liz Lemon, the main character of the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (2006–2013), played by Tina Fey.
SCOTT (Meaning)
Scott is the surname of Michael Scott, the iconic regional manager on the NBC sitcom The Office (2005–2013), played by Steve Carell. Michael Scott is widely considered one of television's greatest comedic characters.
Starting with Affirmative Responses: FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA
Each of these four words or phrases begins with a hidden affirmative response embedded within it: FINE print, GOODbye, GREAT white, and OKAYama.
FINE PRINT (Meaning)
Fine print refers to the small, often hard-to-read text in contracts, agreements, and legal documents that contains important terms, conditions, or disclaimers. The phrase "read the fine print" warns someone to pay attention to details they might otherwise overlook. In today's puzzle, FINE PRINT starts with "fine" — an affirmative response.
GOODBYE (Meaning)
Goodbye is a parting expression used when leaving or ending a conversation. Etymologically, it evolved from the phrase "God be with ye." In today's puzzle, GOODBYE starts with "good" — an affirmative response meaning satisfactory or positive.
GREAT WHITE (Meaning)
Great white most commonly refers to the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), one of the ocean's apex predators, renowned for its massive size and powerful jaws, and made famous by the film Jaws. In today's puzzle, GREAT WHITE starts with "great" — an affirmative response.
OKAYAMA (Meaning)
Okayama is a city and prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan, famous for Kōrakuen, one of Japan's three great gardens, and Okayama Castle. In today's puzzle, OKAYAMA starts with "okay" — an affirmative response hidden within the Japanese city name.
Why These Words Tripped Players Up
The August 12 (#1158) puzzle contained subtle overlap and misdirection. NURSE looks like a profession rather than an emotional verb, while GREEN could easily be confused for a color category word rather than a type of frog. Words like FOSTER, SCOTT, and BULL all double as common human surnames, making it tempting to form a "names" group that doesn't exist. Additionally, OKAYAMA is the trickiest word in the puzzle — most players won't immediately spot the hidden word "okay" at the start of a Japanese city name, and GOODBYE disguises the word "good" within a familiar farewell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 16 words in NYT Connections for August 12, 2026 (#1158)?
The 16 words are FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE, BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE, BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT, FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA.
What do FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN and NURSE have in common?
They are all verbs meaning to hold onto, nurture, or cultivate a feeling or emotion over time.
Why are BULL, GREEN, POISON DART and TREE grouped together?
They are all kinds of frogs — each word precedes "frog" to form a real species: bullfrog, green frog, poison dart frog, and tree frog.
What do BENES, BING, LEMON and SCOTT have in common?
They are all surnames of main characters from NBC sitcoms: Elaine Benes (Seinfeld), Chandler Bing (Friends), Liz Lemon (30 Rock), and Michael Scott (The Office).
What connects FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE and OKAYAMA?
They all start with affirmative responses hidden inside them: FINE print, GOODbye, GREAT white, and OKAYama.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the full definitions and contextual connections for all 16 words in the August 12, 2026 (#1158) NYT Connections grid. Bookmark our site and check back daily for comprehensive answer breakdowns, vocabulary guides, and strategic hints!
