NYT Connections · #1118
NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1118) — July 3, 2026
Work through the grid by sound, not just meaning — at least one group only makes sense when you say the words out loud rather than read them.
Traps & Misdirects for July 3, 2026
The decoys built into this puzzle — and why each one bites.
WARM FUZZIES Decoy
You're probably reading it as retro-sounding slang — it has the same vibe as FAR OUT or GROOVY — but the puzzle is using it as a genuine feeling, not an expression of approval.
HOT DRINK Decoy
You're probably reading it as a temperature-based phrase that pairs with COLD SHOULDER, but the puzzle is using it as a definition of a specific word, not a contrast.
GOSSIP Decoy
You're probably thinking of idle chatter or rumour-spreading, but the puzzle is using it as a definition of a word that sounds like a letter of the alphabet.
SHIRT Decoy
You're probably picturing a generic piece of clothing, but the puzzle is using it as a definition of a word that sounds like a letter — not as a standalone garment.
NYT Connections Word Clues for July 3, 2026
Spoiler-free meaning for every word in the grid.
BLISS
Pure, uncomplicated joy — the most poetic of the four.
COLD SHOULDER
Deliberate ignoring — the temperature word is a red herring away from the purple group.
COOL BEANS
Enthusiastic approval, popular in the 80s and 90s.
DIRTY LOOK
A withering glance that says everything without a word.
FAR OUT
60s and 70s slang for something impressively great.
FELICITY
A formal word for happiness; also a TV show name, which is a red herring here.
GOLF ACCESSORY
The small peg that holds the ball at the start of a hole — a tee.
GOSSIP
Tea as slang for juicy information — the word that sounds like a letter means the rumour, not the drink.
GROOVY
The most iconic retro approval word — forever associated with the 60s.
HAPPINESS
The most straightforward member of this group — no twist.
HARD TIME
To give someone a hard time is to hassle or pressure them.
HOT DRINK
Tea, the beverage — the temperature phrase is a deliberate misdirect toward COLD SHOULDER.
RIGHT ON
Expression of strong agreement or approval, big in the 70s.
RUNAROUND
Being sent from place to place with no real help — a bureaucratic punishment.
SHIRT
A tee-shirt — the letter T describes its shape, and the word tee names the garment.
WARM FUZZIES
Sounds like retro slang, but it describes a cozy, good feeling — not approval.
NYT Connections Hints for July 3, 2026
Reveal exactly what you need — a hint, the group name, or a single word.
See hint
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NYT Connections Answers for July 3, 2026
Full spoilers — all four groups revealed.
Yellow group
Positive feelings
- BLISS
- FELICITY
- HAPPINESS
- WARM FUZZIES
BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS and WARM FUZZIES are all words or phrases for positive emotional states. WARM FUZZIES is the sneakiest — its casual, retro-sounding tone makes it feel like it belongs with the approval slang, but it describes a feeling, not a reaction.
Green group
Retro expressions of approval
- COOL BEANS
- FAR OUT
- GROOVY
- RIGHT ON
COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY and RIGHT ON are all retro slang expressions of approval. These peaked in the 1960s and 70s and have since become markers of a specific era rather than everyday speech.
Blue group
Bad things to give someone
- COLD SHOULDER
- DIRTY LOOK
- HARD TIME
- RUNAROUND
COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME and RUNAROUND are all unkind things you can give someone. They share the structure 'give someone a ___' and each describes a form of dismissal or mistreatment.
Purple group
What things pronounced "t" might refer to
- GOLF ACCESSORY
- GOSSIP
- HOT DRINK
- SHIRT
GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK and SHIRT are all things that the word 'tee' (pronounced like the letter T) can mean — a golf tee, tea as slang for gossip, tea the hot drink, and a tee-shirt. The puzzle never uses the word itself; every entry is a definition you have to match by ear.