A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1124
hints & answers for July 9, 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 9, 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 N, S, V and Z. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

NA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NON-ALCOHOLIC DESIGNATORS

Reveal all four words
  • NA
  • SPIRIT-FREE
  • VIRGIN
  • ZERO-PROOF

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, P, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BILLBOARD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

Reveal all four words
  • BILLBOARD
  • PITCHFORK
  • ROLLING STONE
  • SPIN

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

PERSIAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF RUGS

Reveal all four words
  • PERSIAN
  • PRAYER
  • SHAG
  • THROW

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

FIREBIRD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PONTIAC MODELS

Reveal all four words
  • FIREBIRD
  • G6
  • GRAND PRIX
  • TRANS AM
Show categories only
  • Yellow: NON-ALCOHOLIC DESIGNATORS
  • Green: MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
  • Blue: KINDS OF RUGS
  • Purple: PONTIAC MODELS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

NON-ALCOHOLIC DESIGNATORS

NA · SPIRIT-FREE · VIRGIN · ZERO-PROOF

Green

MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

BILLBOARD · PITCHFORK · ROLLING STONE · SPIN

Blue

KINDS OF RUGS

PERSIAN · PRAYER · SHAG · THROW

Purple

PONTIAC MODELS

FIREBIRD · G6 · GRAND PRIX · TRANS AM

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.