If you played NYT Connections #1161 on August 15, 2026 and wondered what each term means or how they fit together, this guide breaks down the definitions and context behind all 16 words. Whether you solved the board effortlessly or got stuck on the tricky suffix categories, understanding the vocabulary behind BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT, LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH, CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD, BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL and SOUNDTRACK makes the entire puzzle logic clear.
Below, you'll find every word defined and organized by its official category. If you're looking for daily clues or spoilers for future games, visit our NYT Connections hints today hub.
- Exhausted: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT
- Segment: LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH
- Ending in Units of Length: CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD
- Ending in Synonyms for Follow Secretly: BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, SOUNDTRACK
All 16 NYT Connections Words for August 15, 2026
The 16 terms in today's grid were: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT, LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH, CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD, BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, and SOUNDTRACK. Today's board tested your knowledge of synonyms for fatigue, segments of time/distance, and two very clever suffix-based wordplay categories.
Exhausted: BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT
These four terms are informal synonyms used to describe being extremely tired, depleted of energy, or "burned out."
BEAT (Meaning)
Beat (or "beat tired") means to be completely worn down or lacking any remaining strength.
FRIED (Meaning)
Fried is slang for being mentally or physically exhausted, often after a stressful or long period of work.
SPENT (Meaning)
Spent means having used up all of one's energy, capacity, or resources.
WORN OUT (Meaning)
Worn out describes something or someone that is exhausted or damaged from heavy use or fatigue.
Segment: LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH
These four words represent distinct parts or divisions of a journey, process, or period of time.
LEG (Meaning)
Leg refers to one section of a journey, such as a leg of a flight or a race.
PHASE (Meaning)
Phase is a distinct period or stage in a process of change or development.
STAGE (Meaning)
Stage denotes a point, period, or step in a process or activity.
STRETCH (Meaning)
Stretch means a continuous period of time or a continuous area or distance.
Ending in Units of Length: CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD
The trick here was identifying words that contain a common unit of length as their suffix or final component (Mile, Inch, Foot, Yard).
CHAMOMILE (Ending)
Chamomile ends in MILE, a standard unit of length.
GRINCH (Ending)
Grinch ends in INCH, a standard unit of length.
HOTFOOT (Ending)
Hotfoot ends in FOOT, a standard unit of length.
LANYARD (Ending)
Lanyard ends in YARD, a standard unit of length.
Ending in Synonyms for Follow Secretly: BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, SOUNDTRACK
These four words each end with a synonym for following someone secretly or tracking them (Stalk, Shadow, Tail, Track).
BEANSTALK (Ending)
Beanstalk ends in STALK, a verb meaning to follow or approach someone stealthily.
EYESHADOW (Ending)
Eyeshadow ends in SHADOW, a verb meaning to follow someone closely and secretly.
HIGHTAIL (Ending)
Hightail ends in TAIL, a verb meaning to keep someone under surveillance by following them.
SOUNDTRACK (Ending)
Soundtrack ends in TRACK, a verb meaning to follow the progress or trail of someone.
Why These Words Tripped Players Up
Today's puzzle was designed to confuse players who look for meanings rather than word structures. Words like STRETCH and STAGE easily look like they could fit into an "exercise" or "theater" category, while GRINCH could have been misidentified as a holiday term. The biggest challenge was realizing that the Blue and Purple groups were completely dependent on the endings of the words rather than the objects themselves. Separating CHAMOMILE (Unit of length: Mile) from BEANSTALK (Follow secretly: Stalk) was the key to unlocking the final grid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 16 words in NYT Connections #1161 for August 15, 2026?
The 16 words are BEAT, FRIED, SPENT, WORN OUT, LEG, PHASE, STAGE, STRETCH, CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT, LANYARD, BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL, and SOUNDTRACK.
How are CHAMOMILE, GRINCH, HOTFOOT and LANYARD connected?
Each of these words ends with a standard unit of length: Mile (Chamomile), Inch (Grinch), Foot (Hotfoot), and Yard (Lanyard).
How are BEANSTALK, EYESHADOW, HIGHTAIL and SOUNDTRACK connected?
Each of these words ends with a synonym for following someone secretly: Stalk (Beanstalk), Shadow (Eyeshadow), Tail (Hightail), and Track (Soundtrack).
What is the meaning of the "Exhausted" category?
It contains synonyms used to describe being completely depleted of energy (Beat, Fried, Spent, Worn Out).
Final Thoughts
Now you understand the structural wordplay and definitions behind all 16 terms in the August 15, 2026 NYT Connections grid (#1161). Bookmark our site and check back daily for complete answer breakdowns and strategic hints!
