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NYT Connections · #1118

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1118) — July 3, 2026

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“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.”

NYT Connections hints for July 3, 2026

Three levels of help — a definition for every word, colour-coded group nudges, and a heads-up on the traps. Skip to all answers →

1

Word clues

A spoiler-free definition for every word in the grid. Tap the eye on any card to reveal which colour-group it belongs to.

1 BLISSPure, uncomplicated joy — the most poetic of the four.
2 COLD SHOULDERDeliberate ignoring — the temperature word is a red herring away from the purple group.
3 COOL BEANSEnthusiastic approval, popular in the 80s and 90s.
4 DIRTY LOOKA withering glance that says everything without a word.
5 FAR OUT60s and 70s slang for something impressively great.
6 FELICITYA formal word for happiness; also a TV show name, which is a red herring here.
7 GOLF ACCESSORYThe small peg that holds the ball at the start of a hole — a tee.
8 GOSSIPTea as slang for juicy information — the word that sounds like a letter means the rumour, not the drink.
9 GROOVYThe most iconic retro approval word — forever associated with the 60s.
10 HAPPINESSThe most straightforward member of this group — no twist.
11 HARD TIMETo give someone a hard time is to hassle or pressure them.
12 HOT DRINKTea, the beverage — the temperature phrase is a deliberate misdirect toward COLD SHOULDER.
13 RIGHT ONExpression of strong agreement or approval, big in the 70s.
14 RUNAROUNDBeing sent from place to place with no real help — a bureaucratic punishment.
15 SHIRTA tee-shirt — the letter T describes its shape, and the word tee names the garment.
16 WARM FUZZIESSounds like retro slang, but it describes a cozy, good feeling — not approval.
2

Group hints

Four colour-coded groups, easiest → hardest. Every button reveals the hint, the category name, or a single word — tap only what you need.

See Hint That light, floaty feeling when everything is going right.
See Group POSITIVE FEELINGS
See WordBLISS
See WordFELICITY
See WordHAPPINESS
See WordWARM FUZZIES
See Hint Something your parents said instead of 'awesome.'
See Group RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL
See WordCOOL BEANS
See WordFAR OUT
See WordGROOVY
See WordRIGHT ON
See Hint Each one lands like a small social punishment.
See Group BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE
See WordCOLD SHOULDER
See WordDIRTY LOOK
See WordHARD TIME
See WordRUNAROUND
See Hint Four clues, one letter, said aloud.
See Group WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO
See WordGOLF ACCESSORY
See WordGOSSIP
See WordHOT DRINK
See WordSHIRT
3

Words the puzzle wants you to mis-group

Read these before you guess — they're the words most likely to break a streak. Tap for the trap.

1 WARM FUZZIES Tap to see why this word traps.
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.
2 HOT DRINK Tap to see why this word traps.
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.
3 GOSSIP Tap to see why this word traps.
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.
4 SHIRT Tap to see why this word traps.
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 answers for July 3, 2026

All four groups revealed, easiest first. Each card holds the theme, the four words, and why the group works.

Y POSITIVE FEELINGS · Yellow · easiest
  • 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.

G RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL · Green · easy
  • 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.

B BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE · Blue · medium
  • 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.

P WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO · Purple · hardest
  • 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.

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