The yellow category focuses on words associated with leadership and command.
The green and blue groups feature popular apple varieties and well-known shoe brands.
The purple category hides a clever pattern involving words that begin with palindromic names.
NYT Connections puzzle for July 28, 2026 has brought a round of clever wordplay and hidden patterns that players have to identify. At first glance, a grid full of words like Captain, Gala, Crocs, Everest, and Fuji may fool you, but underneath lies the set of today’s themes waiting to be uncovered.
Whether you have a 70-game winning streak and you want to protect it, or you’re here just for fun and some brainstorming, the puzzle is going to offer you a satisfying mental challenge from the very first guess.
Connections is one of the daily puzzles The New York Times provides, and it is the most popular with readers. In this game, there are 16 words (or phrases) that have to be put into four groups of four. Every group has a subtle link, either a theme, a phrase, or a category.
The groups are marked with colors according to their difficulty level:
Yellow is typically the most direct.
Green calls for a little more logical thinking.
Blue is all about cultural or linguistic knowledge.
Purple is more likely to contain complex wordplay or references to popular culture.
Every round gives three wrong guesses before the end of the game; every selection becomes crucial.
BOBSLED, CAPTAIN, EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, CONVERSE, CROCS, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD, EVEREST, HONEYCRISP, CAMPER, CLARKS, OTTOMAN, ANNAPOLIS
Hints for July 28
Here are helpful nudges for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Hint: Think of the terms we use when talking about a designation that has the right to command.
Green Group Hint: These are fruits that keep the doctor away.
Blue Group Hint: These are some of the best shoe brands available and all begin with ‘C’.
Purple Group Hint: The purple group words are tricky. Players have to look for the words that begin with letters that mean the same backward as well.
Still confused? Check out more hints:
Yellow: CAPTAIN
Green: FUJI
Blue: CONVERSE
Purple: OTTOMAN
If you have solved the puzzle using the hints and clues, congratulations! However, if there is still confusion and you’re not sure about the groups of today’s NYT Connections, here’s the complete solution:
Yellow group (COMMAND): CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD
Green group (HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES): EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, HONEYCRISP
Blue group (SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"): CAMPER, CLARKS, CONVERSE, CROCS
Purple group (STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES): ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, OTTOMAN
If you have solved today’s puzzle but missed out on a few of the week’s, below are the answers to some of the previous day's NYT Connections:
| Date | Puzzle # | Yellow Group | Green Group | Blue Group | Purple Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 17, 2026 | #1142 | BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT | CARROT, ICICLE, KNITTING NEEDLE, STALACTITE | DOPPLER, GRAVEYARD, PARADIGM, STICK | BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS |
| July 26, 2026 | #1141 | CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD | BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV | APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER | CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST, ROWING BOAT |
| July 25, 2026 | #1140 | ABUELA, HIJO, MADRE, PRIMO | CHOKE, MIST, TEAR, WELL | KWANZA, LEONE, NAIRA, RAND | CLUB, MALL, POKER, STEAK |
| July 24, 2026 | #1139 | BABBLE, DRONE, RAMBLE, YAK | HOME RUN, SINGLE, STRIKEOUT, WALK | JOG, PROMPT, REFRESH, SPARK | CANTER, FRYER, LLAMA, NONE |
The July 28 edition of NYT Connections delivers a well-balanced challenge. It combines everyday activities with clever word associations. From simple words that say ‘command’ to the fruit that keeps people healthy and shoe brands, the puzzle gradually builds momentum as players move from the easier groups to the trickier ones.
What makes today’s grid satisfying is its relatability. Most categories are based on common words that players use multiple times a day for different contexts. However, finding the right context for the puzzle is the actual challenge. The final backward-and-forward same-letter arrangement connection adds a playful twist that requires sharper observation. This mix of familiarity and surprise is exactly what keeps Connections engaging day after day.