If you played the NYT Connections puzzle on July 26, 2026 (#1141) and wondered what each word actually means, this guide breaks down the definition and meaning of all 16 words. Whether you cracked the grid or came looking afterward, understanding the vocabulary behind BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV, CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD, APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER, CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST and ROWING BOAT makes the whole puzzle click into place.
Below you'll find every word defined and organized by its Connections category, so you can see exactly why each answer belongs where it does. If you want gentle nudges instead of spoilers for future games, check our daily NYT Connections sports hints and answers hub.
- Outmoded Consumer Tech: BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV
- Baby Milestones: CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD
- Expressions for Rain: APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER
- What "Shell" Might Refer To: CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST, ROWING BOAT
All 16 NYT Connections Words for July 26, 2026 (#1141)
The 16 words in today's grid were: BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV, CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD, APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER, CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST and ROWING BOAT. In Connections, you sort these 16 words into four groups of four. Today they split into legacy electronics, infant developmental stages, weather idioms, and meanings or uses of the word "shell."
Outmoded Consumer Tech: BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV
These four devices represent iconic electronic products that were once cutting-edge but have largely been rendered obsolete by modern smartphones and streaming technology.
BLACKBERRY (Meaning)
A BlackBerry was a pioneer smartphone line famous for its physical QWERTY keyboard, widely used for mobile business communication in the 2000s.
DISCMAN (Meaning)
A Discman was Sony's brand of portable Compact Disc (CD) players, extremely popular in the 1990s prior to the rise of digital MP3 players.
DVD PLAYER (Meaning)
A DVD Player is an electronic device designed to play digital optical disc video formats, which replaced VHS tapes before streaming became dominant.
PLASMA TV (Meaning)
A Plasma TV was an early flat-panel television technology that utilized tiny cells containing electrically charged ionized gases, known for deep black levels before OLED and LED tech took over.
Baby Milestones: CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD
Each of these four terms marks an important early developmental milestone in a baby's physical and behavioral growth.
CRAWLING (Meaning)
Crawling is the locomotion milestone where an infant moves across the floor on hands and knees before learning to walk.
FIRST WORDS (Meaning)
First words mark the key speech milestone when an infant transitions from babbling to uttering recognizable language.
ROLLING OVER (Meaning)
Rolling over is one of the earliest gross motor skill milestones, typically occurring when a baby moves from front to back or back to stomach independently.
SOLID FOOD (Meaning)
Solid food refers to the nutritional milestone of introducing puree or soft foods into an infant's diet beyond breast milk or formula.
Expressions for Rain: APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER
These phrases represent colorful idioms, idioms, and colloquialisms used to describe rainfall and damp climates.
APRIL SHOWERS (Meaning)
April showers is an idiom referring to the frequent rainy weather common in spring, famously associated with bringing "May flowers."
LIQUID SUNSHINE (Meaning)
Liquid sunshine is a playful euphemism used to describe rain falling while the sun is still shining, or light warm rain in tropical climates.
SCOTCH MIST (Meaning)
Scotch mist is a British phrase describing a combination of heavy fog and tiny, soaking raindrops, frequently used figuratively to mean "something non-existent."
WET WEATHER (Meaning)
Wet weather is a direct expression describing periods characterized by rainfall, high humidity, and damp outdoor conditions.
What "Shell" Might Refer To: CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST, ROWING BOAT
Each of these four items can be called or described using the word "shell."
CARAPACE (Meaning)
A carapace is the hard upper protective shell of animals such as turtles, crabs, and arachnids.
GAS STATION (Meaning)
Gas station refers to Shell plc, one of the world's largest multinational oil and gas companies, famous for its yellow and red scallop shell logo.
PASTRY CRUST (Meaning)
A pastry crust (like a tart shell or cannoli shell) forms the outer baked casing that holds sweet or savory fillings.
ROWING BOAT (Meaning)
A rowing boat used in competitive rowing or sculling is formally referred to as a "racing shell."
Why These Words Tripped Players Up
The July 26 (#1141) puzzle featured clever overlapping vocabulary. BLACKBERRY easily distracts solvers into thinking of fruit or food groups, while SCOTCH MIST might tempt players to look for alcoholic drinks. Furthermore, ROWING BOAT and GAS STATION seem completely unrelated until you recognize that both can be referred to as a "shell" (a racing shell and Shell Oil Company, respectively).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 16 words in NYT Connections for July 26, 2026 (#1141)?
The 16 words are BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER, PLASMA TV, CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER, SOLID FOOD, APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST, WET WEATHER, CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST and ROWING BOAT.
What do BLACKBERRY, DISCMAN, DVD PLAYER and PLASMA TV have in common?
They are all examples of outmoded consumer technology and electronics from past decades.
Why are CRAWLING, FIRST WORDS, ROLLING OVER and SOLID FOOD grouped together?
They represent major physical and cognitive developmental milestones in an infant's first year of life.
What do APRIL SHOWERS, LIQUID SUNSHINE, SCOTCH MIST and WET WEATHER mean?
They are all idioms, expressions, or colloquial phrases describing rain and wet conditions.
How do CARAPACE, GAS STATION, PASTRY CRUST and ROWING BOAT relate to "SHELL"?
They are all things that can be referred to as a shell (e.g., turtle carapace, Shell gas station, tart shell, racing shell rowing boat).
Final Thoughts
Now you know the full definitions and contextual connections for all 16 words in the July 26, 2026 (#1141) NYT Connections grid. Bookmark our site and check back daily for comprehensive answer breakdowns, vocabulary guides, and strategic hints!
