The yellow category provides an easy entry point by grouping together words associated with surprising or shocking news, making it the most straightforward connection to identify.
The middle categories feature familiar science fair subjects and memorable ACME products from Wile E. Coyote cartoons, rewarding players with knowledge of both science and pop culture.
The purple category delivers today's toughest twist by hiding the names of popular dating apps at the beginning of longer words, requiring careful observation to uncover.
Today’s NYT Connections grid is live with a bunch of random words; at least, at a glance, they look random. Some of these words are extremely common, and we use them almost every day. However, they span different categories, making them difficult to group.
The twist? Some of these words can have multiple meanings, and players may find more than one of those in the puzzle. So choosing the right category in which the word fits is the hardest part.
Connections is among the daily puzzles that The New York Times provides. In this game, there are 16 words that have to be put into four groups of four. Every group has a connection, 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 more oriented to 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.
THUNDERBOLT, ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO, ROCKET SKATES, IRON BIRD SEED, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, TNT, BUMBLEBEE, EARTHQUAKE PILLS, TINDERBOX
Here are helpful nudges for today’s puzzle.
Yellow Group Hint: Think of some terms we might use when we get unexpected news.
Green Group Hint: These are some common themes that students develop for science workshops.
Blue Group Hint: This is for cartoon fans. Look for the highly renowned animated characters.
Purple Group Hint: For this group, look for words that are actually dating apps.
Still a bit confused? Here’s another set of clues to find the right track:
Yellow: BOMBSHELL
Green: DNA
Blue: ROCKET SKATES
Purple: TINDERBOX
Below are the exact categories and answers for July 6, 2026:
Yellow group (STUNNING NEWS): BOMBSHELL, REVELATION, SHOCKER, THUNDERBOLT
Green group (SCIENCE FAIR MODEL SUBJECTS): ATOM, DNA, SOLAR SYSTEM, VOLCANO
Blue group (ACME PRODUCTS USED BY WILE E. COYOTE): EARTHQUAKE PILLS, IRON BIRD SEED, ROCKET SKATES, TNT
Purple group (STARTING WITH DATING APPS): BUMBLEBEE, GRIND RAIL, MATCHA, TINDERBOX
Check Out the Image Below to Learn How to Make the Sets of Today's Puzzle:
The NYT Connections for July 6 stands out for its layered thinking and clever word selection. The puzzle pushes players to look beyond the words' obvious meanings. Players have to understand how words function in different contexts.
What makes the game particularly satisfying is the way it unfolds. Early groups may seem straightforward, but the deeper categories demand patience and a willingness to rethink initial assumptions. The final reveal, especially with the cleverly hidden dating apps, ties the entire puzzle together in a rewarding way.