NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Sunday, July 19, 2026 (Puzzle #1134)
Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — July 19, 2026 (Puzzle #1134)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Sunday, July 19, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – Circuit Components: BREAKER, FUSE, RELAY, SWITCH
- 🟩 Green – Digital Coupling Verbs: CONNECT, JOIN, PAIR, SYNC
- 🟦 Blue – Things Toilets Do: DRAIN, FLUSH, REFILL, SWIRL
- 🟪 Purple – _____ Face Expressions: GAME, LONG, POKER, STRAIGHT
Want to try solving it yourself first? Scroll down for progressive spoiler-free hints before seeing the full breakdown.
Welcome to today's NYT Connections hints and answers guide for Sunday, July 19, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1134, you're in the right place. We'll start with spoiler-free progressive hints so you can try to figure it out on your own, then reveal the full Connections answers for today with a detailed explanation of each group.
📌 Key Takeaways — Puzzle #1134
- Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1134
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — _____ Face Expressions
- Easiest Category: Yellow — Circuit Components
- Red Herring Warning: Keep an eye out for the overlap between tech and electrical terms! Words like SWITCH and CONNECT easily trick players into grouping them under a digital network theme. Additionally, SWITCH and FLUSH can be thought of in poker terms, which might tempt you to throw them into a card-playing category alongside POKER and GAME.
📖 In This Guide
- Tap-to-Reveal Word Hints (Interactive Grid)
- Spoiler-Free Category Hints
- Progressive Category Reveal
- Traps & Misdirects
- One-Word Hints for Each Group
- Two-Away Hints (Almost There)
- Full Answers & Solution Revealed
- Per-Word Explanations & Definitions
- Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
- How to Play NYT Connections
- FAQ
🔮 Connections Hint for Each Word Today — July 19, 2026
Tap any word to see its Connections hint — what it means in today's puzzle, no spoilers. Uncover all 16 to fill the progress bar.
SYNC Connections Hint Today
SYNC belongs to the Green group ("Digital Coupling Verbs"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
Definition: SYNC is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While SYNC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
FUSE Connections Hint Today
FUSE belongs to the Yellow group ("Circuit Components"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Circuit Components".
Definition: FUSE is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While FUSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
LONG Connections Hint Today
LONG belongs to the Purple group ("_____ Face Expressions"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "_____ Face Expressions".
Definition: LONG is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While LONG has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
CONNECT Connections Hint Today
CONNECT belongs to the Green group ("Digital Coupling Verbs"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
Definition: CONNECT is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While CONNECT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
PAIR Connections Hint Today
PAIR belongs to the Green group ("Digital Coupling Verbs"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
Definition: PAIR is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While PAIR has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
FLUSH Connections Hint Today
FLUSH belongs to the Blue group ("Things Toilets Do"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Things Toilets Do".
Definition: FLUSH is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While FLUSH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
DRAIN Connections Hint Today
DRAIN belongs to the Blue group ("Things Toilets Do"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Things Toilets Do".
Definition: DRAIN is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While DRAIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
RELAY Connections Hint Today
RELAY belongs to the Yellow group ("Circuit Components"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Circuit Components".
Definition: RELAY is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While RELAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
STRAIGHT Connections Hint Today
STRAIGHT belongs to the Purple group ("_____ Face Expressions"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "_____ Face Expressions".
Definition: STRAIGHT is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While STRAIGHT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
JOIN Connections Hint Today
JOIN belongs to the Green group ("Digital Coupling Verbs"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
Definition: JOIN is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While JOIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
POKER Connections Hint Today
POKER belongs to the Purple group ("_____ Face Expressions"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "_____ Face Expressions".
Definition: POKER is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While POKER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
BREAKER Connections Hint Today
BREAKER belongs to the Yellow group ("Circuit Components"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Circuit Components".
Definition: BREAKER is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While BREAKER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
GAME Connections Hint Today
GAME belongs to the Purple group ("_____ Face Expressions"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "_____ Face Expressions".
Definition: GAME is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While GAME has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
SWIRL Connections Hint Today
SWIRL belongs to the Blue group ("Things Toilets Do"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Things Toilets Do".
Definition: SWIRL is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While SWIRL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
SWITCH Connections Hint Today
SWITCH belongs to the Yellow group ("Circuit Components"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Circuit Components".
Definition: SWITCH is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While SWITCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
REFILL Connections Hint Today
REFILL belongs to the Blue group ("Things Toilets Do"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Things Toilets Do".
Definition: REFILL is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While REFILL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
SYNC belongs to the Green group ("Digital Coupling Verbs"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: Keep an eye out for the overlap between tech and electrical terms! Words like SWITCH and CONNECT easily trick players into grouping them under a digital network theme. Additionally, SWITCH and FLUSH can be thought of in poker terms, which might tempt you to throw them into a card-playing category alongside POKER and GAME.
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections July 19, 2026
Not ready for the full answer? Try these progressive hints for today's Connections puzzle. We start vague and get more specific.
🟨 Yellow Group Hint
Theme Hint: Think about the fundamental electrical parts and safety devices you would find inside a home breaker box, control panel, or basic wiring circuit.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: These verbs are all actions you take when linking devices, uniting software platforms, or establishing a wireless tech relationship.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: Take a trip to the restroom. These four actions describe the internal mechanics, water flow, and fluid dynamics of a standard porcelain commode during its standard operational cycle.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: All four of these words can immediately precede a specific five-letter word that refers to the front of a human head or the expressions it makes.
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
Think about the fundamental electrical parts and safety devices you would find inside a home breaker box, control panel, or basic wiring circuit.
Green Connections Hint Today
These verbs are all actions you take when linking devices, uniting software platforms, or establishing a wireless tech relationship.
Blue Connections Hint Today
Take a trip to the restroom. These four actions describe the internal mechanics, water flow, and fluid dynamics of a standard porcelain commode during its standard operational cycle.
Purple Connections Hint Today
All four of these words can immediately precede a specific five-letter word that refers to the front of a human head or the expressions it makes.
⚠️ Traps & Misdirects in Today's Connections
Today's puzzle includes words intentionally placed to misdirect you. These trap hints reveal which words are designed to mislead, so you don't burn your 4 allowed mistakes on deliberate decoys.
Keep an eye out for the overlap between tech and electrical terms! Words like SWITCH and CONNECT easily trick players into grouping them under a digital network theme. Additionally, SWITCH and FLUSH can be thought of in poker terms, which might tempt you to throw them into a card-playing category alongside POKER and GAME.
Words like BREAKER and CONNECT might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BREAKER is part of "Circuit Components" while CONNECT belongs to "Digital Coupling Verbs". Don't group them together.
Words like BREAKER and DRAIN might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BREAKER is part of "Circuit Components" while DRAIN belongs to "Things Toilets Do". Don't group them together.
Words like BREAKER and GAME might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BREAKER is part of "Circuit Components" while GAME belongs to "_____ Face Expressions". Don't group them together.
🔑 One-Word Hints for Each Group
Still need a nudge? Here's one word that describes each group's theme:
🟨 Yellow
CIRCUIT COMPONENTS
🟩 Green
DIGITAL COUPLING VERBS
🟦 Blue
THINGS TOILETS DO
🟪 Purple
_____ FACE EXPRESSIONS
🔥 Two-Away Hints — Almost the Full Answer
Last chance before the full reveal. Here are two members of each group:
| Group | Two Revealed Words | Can You Find the Other Two? |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | BREAKER, FUSE | What other words fit the "Circuit Components" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | CONNECT, JOIN | What other words fit the "Digital Coupling Verbs" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | DRAIN, FLUSH | What other words fit the "Things Toilets Do" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | GAME, LONG | What other words fit the "_____ Face Expressions" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, July 19, 2026 (Puzzle #1134)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Sunday, July 19, 2026. Puzzle #1134 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — Circuit Components
🟩 Green — Digital Coupling Verbs
🟦 Blue — Things Toilets Do
🟪 Purple — _____ Face Expressions
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1134 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — Circuit Components
The easiest category is "Circuit Components". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BREAKER
BREAKER is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While BREAKER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
FUSE
FUSE is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While FUSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
RELAY
RELAY is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While RELAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
SWITCH
SWITCH is one of the four words in the "Circuit Components" category. While SWITCH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Circuit Components".
🟩 Green (Medium) — Digital Coupling Verbs
The medium category is "Digital Coupling Verbs". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CONNECT
CONNECT is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While CONNECT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
JOIN
JOIN is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While JOIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
PAIR
PAIR is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While PAIR has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
SYNC
SYNC is one of the four words in the "Digital Coupling Verbs" category. While SYNC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Digital Coupling Verbs".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — Things Toilets Do
The hard category is "Things Toilets Do". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
DRAIN
DRAIN is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While DRAIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
FLUSH
FLUSH is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While FLUSH has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
REFILL
REFILL is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While REFILL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
SWIRL
SWIRL is one of the four words in the "Things Toilets Do" category. While SWIRL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Things Toilets Do".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — _____ Face Expressions
The hardest category is "_____ Face Expressions". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
GAME
GAME is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While GAME has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
LONG
LONG is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While LONG has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
POKER
POKER is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While POKER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
STRAIGHT
STRAIGHT is one of the four words in the "_____ Face Expressions" category. While STRAIGHT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "_____ Face Expressions".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — Circuit Components | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — Digital Coupling Verbs | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — Things Toilets Do | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — _____ Face Expressions | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1134
A smart approach today is to group the plumbing actions first, as SWIRL and FLUSH have highly specific contexts that quickly narrow down the list. Once the bathroom mechanics are sorted out, separate the digital actions (SYNC, PAIR) from the physical electrical hardware (BREAKER, FUSE) to leave yourself an easy path to solving the remaining purple wordplay category.
🎮 How to Play NYT Connections
New to the game? Here's a quick guide:
1️⃣
Study the 16 Words
Find four groups of four related words in the 4×4 grid.
2️⃣
Select & Submit
Tap four words you think belong together and hit "Submit."
3️⃣
4 Mistakes Max
Wrong guesses cost a life. After 4 mistakes, the game ends.
4️⃣
Solve All Four
Yellow = easiest, Purple = hardest. Solve all four to win!
🗞️ What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle game created by Wyna Liu and published by The New York Times. Launched in mid-2023, it has become one of the most popular word games online alongside Wordle. Each puzzle presents 16 words that must be organized into four groups of four sharing a common theme.
- 🟨 Yellow — Easiest (straightforward connections)
- 🟩 Green — Medium difficulty
- 🟦 Blue — Hard (tricky connections or wordplay)
- 🟪 Purple — Hardest (often abstract, suffix/prefix patterns, or obscure links)
📅 Yesterday's Answers — Puzzle #1145
- 🟨 Virtuous: FAIR, GOOD, JUST, RIGHT
- 🟩 Activities With Multiple Balls: BEER PONG, BINGO, JUGGLING, POOL
- 🟦 Cruise Lines: CARNIVAL, CELEBRITY, PRINCESS, VIKING
- 🟪 On the ___, To Mean "Precise": DOT, MARK, MONEY, NOSE
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Connections July 19, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1134 (July 19, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (Circuit Components): BREAKER, FUSE, RELAY, SWITCH | 🟩 Green (Digital Coupling Verbs): CONNECT, JOIN, PAIR, SYNC | 🟦 Blue (Things Toilets Do): DRAIN, FLUSH, REFILL, SWIRL | 🟪 Purple (_____ Face Expressions): GAME, LONG, POKER, STRAIGHT.
The yellow category in today's Connections (July 19, 2026) is "Circuit Components" and the four answers are BREAKER, FUSE, RELAY, SWITCH.
The purple category in today's Connections (July 19, 2026) is "_____ Face Expressions" and the answers are GAME, LONG, POKER, STRAIGHT.
A new NYT Connections puzzle is released every day at midnight Eastern Time (ET). That's 9:00 PM Pacific, 5:00 AM BST, or 2:00 PM AEST. Bookmark this page for daily hints!
You are allowed up to 4 mistakes. After 4 incorrect guesses, the game ends and all remaining answers are revealed. Start with Yellow (easiest) to minimize errors.
The colors indicate difficulty: 🟨 Yellow is the easiest, 🟩 Green is moderate, 🟦 Blue is tricky, and 🟪 Purple is the hardest (often involving wordplay or abstract connections).
Yes! NYT Connections is free to play daily on The New York Times website and app. No subscription is required. You can also play unlimited sports-themed puzzles for free at ConnectionsSports.com.
As of July 19, 2026, there have been 1,134 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1134
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1135 — we'll have fresh hints and answers waiting for you right here!
Questions or feedback? Contact Ranjit Kumar — puzzle architect and creator of ConnectionsSports.com.