Issue #1136 Tue 21 Jul
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — July 21, 2026
A tidy collection of distinct ideas that requires a bit of sorting. Keep your focus sharp as you navigate the grid.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A changing closet shelf as the seasons turn from sweltering heat to a crisp autumn chill.
Apparel and fashion
Examples of one named set
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters C, H, T.
KINDS OF TOPS
One is CROP.
CROP · HALTER · TANK · TUBE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The cluttered folder on your desktop where you dump installers and utility files you might use later.
Computer software
Examples of one named set
Members are 3–9 letters; first letters A, D, E, P.
SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
One is APP.
APP · DRIVER · EXTENSION · PLUGIN
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The heavy binder sitting on a piano bench, filled with annotated sheet music and stage directions.
Theater production
Examples of one named set
Members are 4–13 letters; first letters B, L, M, O.
ELEMENTS OF A MUSICAL
One is BOOK.
BOOK · LYRICS · MUSIC · ORCHESTRATION
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A message on the desk, a mind-bending power, a cue screen, and a glowing living-room set.
Wordplay group
Each fills the same blank
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters G, K, P, V.
TELE___
One is GRAM.
GRAM · KINESIS · PROMPTER · VISION
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
KINDS OF TOPSCROP · HALTER · TANK · TUBE
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Reveal the green group
SOFTWARE DOWNLOADSAPP · DRIVER · EXTENSION · PLUGIN
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Reveal the blue group
ELEMENTS OF A MUSICALBOOK · LYRICS · MUSIC · ORCHESTRATION
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Reveal the violet group
TELE___GRAM · KINESIS · PROMPTER · VISION
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on July 21, 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 21, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on July 21, 2026?
NYT Connections on July 21, 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 21, 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 #1136?
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