A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1118
hints & answers for July 3, 2026

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows July 3, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, F, H and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLISS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

POSITIVE FEELINGS

Reveal all four words
  • BLISS
  • FELICITY
  • HAPPINESS
  • WARM FUZZIES

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, F, G and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COOL BEANS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL

Reveal all four words
  • COOL BEANS
  • FAR OUT
  • GROOVY
  • RIGHT ON

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, D, H and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COLD SHOULDER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE

Reveal all four words
  • COLD SHOULDER
  • DIRTY LOOK
  • HARD TIME
  • RUNAROUND

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with G, G, H and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GOLF ACCESSORY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO

Reveal all four words
  • GOLF ACCESSORY
  • GOSSIP
  • HOT DRINK
  • SHIRT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: POSITIVE FEELINGS
  • Green: RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL
  • Blue: BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE
  • Purple: WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

POSITIVE FEELINGS

BLISS · FELICITY · HAPPINESS · WARM FUZZIES

Green

RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL

COOL BEANS · FAR OUT · GROOVY · RIGHT ON

Blue

BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE

COLD SHOULDER · DIRTY LOOK · HARD TIME · RUNAROUND

Purple

WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO

GOLF ACCESSORY · GOSSIP · HOT DRINK · SHIRT

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.