Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer
Jul 14, 2026
Yesterday's NYT Connections Hints and Answer
7 July 2026 · 16 words · 4 groups · 4 mistakes allowed
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Category Hints for 7 July 2026
Each category shows its theme. Reveal one word from the group when you need more help.
Yellow (Easiest)
ROOMS IN CLUE
Green (Easy)
STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS
Blue (Medium)
___ TWIST
Purple (Hardest)
ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS
Quick Tips
Rules and strategy to help before you look at the answers.
1
Game RulesEasy
How many groups are there and how many mistakes are allowed?
2
StrategyMedium
Why is the Purple group so hard?
3
Yellow GroupEasy
What is the Yellow category theme for 7 July 2026?
4
Green GroupEasy
What is the Green category theme for 7 July 2026?
5
Blue GroupMedium
What is the Blue category theme for 7 July 2026?
6
Purple GroupHard
What is the Purple category theme for 7 July 2026?
Full Solution for 7 July 2026
Spoiler belowYellow
ROOMS IN CLUE
KITCHEN
HALL
STUDY
CONSERVATORY
Green
STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS
JOCK
LETTERMAN
TEAM CAPTAIN
ALL-AMERICAN
Blue
___ TWIST
PLOT
FRENCH
LEMON
OLIVER
Purple
ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS
DISCOUNT
COLBERT
BERNIE
SAN ANSELMO
NYT Connections Strategy Tips
How to solve Connections faster and with fewer mistakes.
Start with Yellow, always
Yellow is the easiest group by design. Locking it in first gives you 4 fewer words to worry about and reduces the chance of a red-herring mistake in harder groups.
Watch out for red herrings
The NYT deliberately places words that could fit two or more categories. If a word feels too obvious, check whether it might belong to a harder group instead.
Purple is almost always wordplay
The Purple group commonly uses "___ before/after ___", double meanings, homophones, or phrases where each word follows an unexpected pattern. If you can not see a literal connection, think figuratively.
Find groups of 5 or more, then trim
If you spot 5 words that all seem to belong together, one is a decoy. Identifying the odd word out is easier than guessing the whole group correctly at once.
Use "One Away" feedback wisely
When the game tells you you are "One Away", do not guess again immediately. Look at your four words and ask which one could belong to a different category before risking another mistake.
Think about the category label, not just the words
NYT Connections category titles are often very specific (e.g., "Things that precede BALL"). Reading possible category titles in your head for each group of 4 can click the connection into place.
Need to brush up on vocabulary? Browse 5-letter words or explore all word tools.
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Latest NYT Connections Answers
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DateGame #Answer
Jul 14, 2026#1218(CONTRACT): AGREEMENT | BARGAIN | DEAL | UNDERSTANDING | (EDIT MENU OPTIONS): COPY | CUT | DELETE | PASTE | (KINDS OF BASKETS): EASTER | GROCERY | LAUNDRY | PICNIC | (SYMBOLIZED WITH ARROWS): RECYCLING | SHUFFLE | THIS SIDE UP | U-TURN
Jul 07, 2026#1191(ROOMS IN CLUE): CONSERVATORY | HALL | KITCHEN | STUDY | (STUDENT-ATHLETE DESIGNATIONS): ALL-AMERICAN | JOCK | LETTERMAN | TEAM CAPTAIN | (___ TWIST): FRENCH | LEMON | OLIVER | PLOT | (ENDING IN "SESAME STREET" CHARACTERS): BERNIE | COLBERT | DISCOUNT | SAN ANSELMO
Jul 06, 2026#1199(STUNNING NEWS): BOMBSHELL | REVELATION | SHOCKER | THUNDERBOLT | (SCIENCE FAIR MODEL SUBJECTS): ATOM | DNA | SOLAR SYSTEM | VOLCANO | (ACME PRODUCTS USED BY WILE E. COYOTE): EARTHQUAKE PILLS | IRON BIRD SEED | ROCKET SKATES | TNT | (STARTING WITH DATING APPS): BUMBLEBEE | GRIND RAIL | MATCHA | TINDERBOX
Jul 05, 2026#1204(GRANOLA INGREDIENTS): HONEY | NUTS | OATS | SEEDS | (PAYMENT METHODS): CARD | CASH | CHECK | WIRE | (AMEX CARD TYPES): CENTURION | GOLD | GREEN | PLATINUM | (WHAT "W" MIGHT STAND FOR): TUNGSTEN | WEST | WIN | WITH
Jul 04, 2026#1207(PERSIST): CONTINUE | LAST | LINGER | STAY | (KINDS OF POEMS): BALLAD | EPIC | ODE | VILLANELLE | (TROPICAL DRINKS): HURRICANE | PAINKILLER | SCORPION | ZOMBIE | (SWEET ___): DREAMS | NOTHINGS | PEA | SPOT
Jul 03, 2026#1209(POSITIVE FEELINGS): BLISS | FELICITY | HAPPINESS | WARM FUZZIES | (RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL): COOL BEANS | FAR OUT | GROOVY | RIGHT ON | (BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE): COLD SHOULDER | DIRTY LOOK | HARD TIME | RUNAROUND | (WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO): GOLF ACCESSORY | GOSSIP | HOT DRINK | SHIRT
Jul 02, 2026#1190(THEY IMPERSONATE OTHER THINGS): COPYCAT | MIME | MOCKINGBIRD | T-1000 | (OLD-TIMEY NAMES FOR THINGS WE STILL USE): LOOKING GLASS | SPECTACLES | TALKIE | WATER CLOSET | (STARTING WITH NICKNAMES): BILLY GOAT | DAN DAN NOODLES | RICH TEXT | TOM-TOM | (STARTING WITH SPORTS VENUES): COURT JESTER | DIAMOND RING | FIELD MOUSE | TRACK RECORD
Jul 01, 2026#1192(THINGS NAMED AFTER PLACES): CHAMPAGNE | CHINA | COLOGNE | LIMERICK | (BEST PICTURE WINNERS/NOMINEES): CASABLANCA | CHICAGO | FARGO | MUNICH | (PLACES IN COCKTAIL NAMES): CUBA | LONG ISLAND | MOSCOW | SINGAPORE | (STARTING WITH COUNTRIES): DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | GUINEA-BISSAU | INDIANAPOLIS | NIGERIA