Issue #1146 Fri 31 Jul
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — July 31, 2026
A tidy, reliable grid that rewards a steady hand. You will find the path forward by keeping your eyes on the subtle shifts in language.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The clay on the potter's wheel, the mannequin in the window, and the wire frame under a hat.
Design and production
Verb synonyms
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters F, M, S.
CONSTRUCT
One is FASHION.
FASHION · MODEL · MOLD · SHAPE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A gold coin hanging in the air, a pipe, and a brick with a question mark.
Video game archetypes
Examples of one named set
Members are 7–8 letters; first letters D, M, P.
SUPER MARIO FIGURES
One is DINOSAUR.
DINOSAUR · MUSHROOM · PLUMBER · PRINCESS
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A grocery list containing a single red fruit, a stone fruit, and two other pantry staples.
Wordplay group
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters D, J, S.
FRUITS PLUS STARTING LETTER
One is DAPPLE.
DAPPLE · JDATE · SLIME · SPEAR
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A morning bowl of grain, a controller in your palm, and a few other scraps of a Saturday morning.
Wordplay group
Each starts with a hidden item
Members are 5–8 letters; first letters C, F, G, J.
STARTING WITH MERRIMENTS
One is CHEERIOS.
CHEERIOS · FUNGUS · GLEEK · JOYSTICK
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
CONSTRUCTFASHION · MODEL · MOLD · SHAPE
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Reveal the green group
SUPER MARIO FIGURESDINOSAUR · MUSHROOM · PLUMBER · PRINCESS
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Reveal the blue group
FRUITS PLUS STARTING LETTERDAPPLE · JDATE · SLIME · SPEAR
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Reveal the violet group
STARTING WITH MERRIMENTSCHEERIOS · FUNGUS · GLEEK · JOYSTICK
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on July 31, 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 31, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on July 31, 2026?
NYT Connections on July 31, 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 31, 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 #1146?
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