Issue #1133 Sat 18 Jul
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — July 18, 2026
A steady, well-paced selection that keeps the board clear without demanding too much heavy lifting. You might find a few familiar faces waiting at the end of the line.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The referee's whistle piercing the air while the crowd groans at a clumsy play on the hardwood.
Athletic infractions
Verb synonyms
Members are 5–14 letters; first letters C, D, G, T.
COMMIT A BASKETBALL VIOLATION
One is CARRY.
CARRY · DOUBLE DRIBBLE · GOALTEND · TRAVEL
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A quiet moment of reflection when you decide where you actually stand on a messy issue.
Cognitive positions
Synonyms
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters A, M, O, V.
BELIEF
One is ATTITUDE.
ATTITUDE · MIND · OPINION · VIEW
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The corner of the screen where you keep a nervous eye on your remaining resources.
Gaming interface elements
Examples of one named set
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters H, L, S, T.
THINGS TRACKED IN VIDEO GAMES
One is HEALTH.
HEALTH · LIVES · SCORE · TIME
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A quick look at the morning paper or a bite of a pastry before the coffee kicks in.
Compound words
Each fills the same blank
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters C, F, Q, T.
WORDS AFTER "POP"
One is CULTURE.
CULTURE · FLY · QUIZ · TART
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
COMMIT A BASKETBALL VIOLATIONCARRY · DOUBLE DRIBBLE · GOALTEND · TRAVEL
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Reveal the green group
BELIEFATTITUDE · MIND · OPINION · VIEW
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Reveal the blue group
THINGS TRACKED IN VIDEO GAMESHEALTH · LIVES · SCORE · TIME
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Reveal the violet group
WORDS AFTER "POP"CULTURE · FLY · QUIZ · TART
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on July 18, 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 18, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on July 18, 2026?
NYT Connections on July 18, 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 18, 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 #1133?
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