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NYT Connections · #1146

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1146) — July 31, 2026

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“Start by grouping words that function as verbs you can perform with your hands.”

NYT Connections hints for July 31, 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 CHEERIOSCheer plus a common plural ending.
2 DAPPLED placed before a common fruit.
3 DINOSAURA large creature that appears as an enemy in the games.
4 FASHIONTo make or create something from available materials.
5 FUNGUSFun plus a common plural ending.
6 GLEEKGlee plus a common ending.
7 JDATEJ placed before a common fruit.
8 JOYSTICKJoy plus a handle or control lever.
9 MODELTo shape or form an object after a pattern.
10 MOLDTo press or form material into a desired shape.
11 MUSHROOMThe power-up item that makes the hero grow.
12 PLUMBERThe main hero's everyday profession.
13 PRINCESSThe character the hero repeatedly rescues.
14 SHAPETo form or give structure to something.
15 SLIMES placed before a common fruit.
16 SPEARS placed before a common fruit.
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 Actions you perform with clay or dough to create an object.
See Group CONSTRUCT
See WordFASHION
See WordMODEL
See WordMOLD
See WordSHAPE
See Hint Icons tied to one red-capped video game hero.
See Group SUPER MARIO FIGURES
See WordDINOSAUR
See WordMUSHROOM
See WordPLUMBER
See WordPRINCESS
See Hint A single letter placed before each fruit creates a new term.
See Group FRUITS PLUS STARTING LETTER
See WordDAPPLE
See WordJDATE
See WordSLIME
See WordSPEAR
See Hint Each word opens with a term for happiness or delight.
See Group STARTING WITH MERRIMENTS
See WordCHEERIOS
See WordFUNGUS
See WordGLEEK
See WordJOYSTICK
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 CHEERIOS Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the breakfast cereal, but here the puzzle splits the word into a joy term plus a suffix.
2 DAPPLE Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably picturing a spotted pattern on a horse, but here the puzzle adds a single letter in front of a fruit.
3 SLIME Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of the gooey substance, but here the puzzle adds a single letter in front of a fruit.
4 JOYSTICK Tap to see why this word traps.
You're probably thinking of a video-game controller, but here the puzzle splits the word into a joy term plus a handle.

NYT Connections answers for July 31, 2026

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

Y CONSTRUCT · Yellow · easiest
  • FASHION
  • MODEL
  • MOLD
  • SHAPE

FASHION, MODEL, MOLD and SHAPE are all verbs meaning to make or form something. MOLD reuses an earlier grouping from a prior puzzle under the same theme.

G SUPER MARIO FIGURES · Green · easy
  • DINOSAUR
  • MUSHROOM
  • PLUMBER
  • PRINCESS

DINOSAUR, MUSHROOM, PLUMBER and PRINCESS are all figures or items from the Super Mario series. The same four words appeared together in an earlier puzzle under the same theme.

B FRUITS PLUS STARTING LETTER · Blue · medium
  • DAPPLE
  • JDATE
  • SLIME
  • SPEAR

DAPPLE, JDATE, SLIME and SPEAR each start with one extra letter added to a fruit name. SLIME is the sneakiest because most solvers first picture the sticky substance rather than the letter addition.

P STARTING WITH MERRIMENTS · Purple · hardest
  • CHEERIOS
  • FUNGUS
  • GLEEK
  • JOYSTICK

CHEERIOS, FUNGUS, GLEEK and JOYSTICK each begin with a synonym for joy or cheer. CHEERIOS is the sneakiest because most solvers first picture the cereal brand rather than the split.

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