Today’s puzzle (#1119) for Saturday, July 4, 2026, blends everyday vocabulary with literature, popular drinks and familiar phrases, making it one of those grids that looks simple until the final few words refuse to fit anywhere. Another day brings another chance to test your word-association skills with NYT Connections. If you’re trying to keep your winning streak alive but need a gentle nudge, start with the spoiler-free hints below. And if you’re completely stumped, the full set of answers is waiting further down.
NYT Connections is a daily word game from The New York Times in which players are given a grid of 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four that share a common link. Because words like Hurricane and Zombie may initially suggest storms or horror themes instead of cocktails, the Blue group could easily mislead players.
Rather than sharing a direct meaning, each word completed the phrase “Sweet ___”. Some connections are obvious, while others rely on wordplay, pop culture, idioms or specialised knowledge. The four categories are colour-coded by difficulty, beginning with Yellow (easiest), followed by Green, Blue and Purple (most challenging). Want a push without giving away the answers? These clues should point you in the right direction. Yellow: Think of words that describe something continuing instead of ending. Green: These are all recognised styles of verse that you might study in literature. Blue: You might find these on the menu at a beach resort or a tropical bar. Purple: Pair each word with the same adjective to create four familiar expressions. Still stuck? Yellow – Persist Continue Last Linger Stay Green – Kinds of poems Ballad Epic Ode Villanelle Blue – Tropical drinks Hurricane Painkiller Scorpion Zombie Purple – Sweet ___ Dreams Nothings Pea Spot The opening categories were fairly approachable, but the final two demanded a different way of thinking. The Purple category was the real curveball. Unless that pattern clicked, the four words seemed unrelated, making the last group the biggest obstacle for many players.
Players have four chances to make an incorrect grouping before the game ends. Here are the correct groupings for today’s puzzle.
Get the latest technology news and updates. Download the TOI App. Whether you solved the puzzle on your first attempt or needed all four guesses, today’s Connections was a reminder that the simplest-looking words often hide the trickiest relationships. A fresh puzzle will be available tomorrow with an entirely new set of connections to uncover.