Issue #1131 Thu 16 Jul
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — July 16, 2026
A tidy grid that rewards a steady hand and a bit of patience. The connections are straightforward enough, but they require a certain focus to avoid being led astray.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A bathroom mirror reflecting a face covered in goop, the timer ticking down on the counter.
Personal grooming supplies
Examples of one named set
Members are 4–9 letters; first letters C, E, P, T.
SKINCARE PRODUCTS
One is CLAY MASK.
CLAY MASK · EYE CREAM · PEEL · TONER
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The deep, light-absorbing interior of a brand new fountain pen or the color of a moonless night.
Varieties of the color black
Synonyms
Members are 3–8 letters; first letters C, I, J, P.
SHADES OF BLACK
One is CHARCOAL.
CHARCOAL · INK · JET · PITCH
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The steady hand of a watchmaker or the focused breath of a marksman.
Concepts of exactness
Synonyms
Members are 5–9 letters; first letters B, C, L, N.
ASSOCIATED WITH PRECISION
One is BULLSEYE.
BULLSEYE · CLOCKWORK · LASER · NEEDLE
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The messy ink splatter on a page or a stray mark on a clean white wall.
Wordplay group
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 10–12 letters; first letters D, P, S.
STARTING WITH TINY MARKS
One is DOT MATRIX.
DOT MATRIX · PERIOD PIECE · POINT BREAK · SPOT REMOVER
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
SKINCARE PRODUCTSCLAY MASK · EYE CREAM · PEEL · TONER
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Reveal the green group
SHADES OF BLACKCHARCOAL · INK · JET · PITCH
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Reveal the blue group
ASSOCIATED WITH PRECISIONBULLSEYE · CLOCKWORK · LASER · NEEDLE
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Reveal the violet group
STARTING WITH TINY MARKSDOT MATRIX · PERIOD PIECE · POINT BREAK · SPOT REMOVER
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on July 16, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for July 16, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on July 16, 2026?
NYT Connections on July 16, 2026 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on July 16, 2026?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #1131?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words