A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1141
hints & answers for July 26, 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 26, 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 C, F, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CRAWLING belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BABY MILESTONES

Reveal all four words
  • CRAWLING
  • FIRST WORDS
  • ROLLING OVER
  • SOLID FOOD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLACKBERRY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OUTMODED CONSUMER TECH

Reveal all four words
  • BLACKBERRY
  • DISCMAN
  • DVD PLAYER
  • PLASMA TV

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, L, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

APRIL SHOWERS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EXPRESSIONS FOR RAIN

Reveal all four words
  • APRIL SHOWERS
  • LIQUID SUNSHINE
  • SCOTCH MIST
  • WET WEATHER

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CARAPACE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT "SHELL" MIGHT REFER TO

Reveal all four words
  • CARAPACE
  • GAS STATION
  • PASTRY CRUST
  • ROWING BOAT
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BABY MILESTONES
  • Green: OUTMODED CONSUMER TECH
  • Blue: EXPRESSIONS FOR RAIN
  • Purple: WHAT "SHELL" MIGHT REFER TO

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BABY MILESTONES

CRAWLING · FIRST WORDS · ROLLING OVER · SOLID FOOD

Green

OUTMODED CONSUMER TECH

BLACKBERRY · DISCMAN · DVD PLAYER · PLASMA TV

Blue

EXPRESSIONS FOR RAIN

APRIL SHOWERS · LIQUID SUNSHINE · SCOTCH MIST · WET WEATHER

Purple

WHAT "SHELL" MIGHT REFER TO

CARAPACE · GAS STATION · PASTRY CRUST · ROWING BOAT

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.