NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Monday, July 20, 2026 (Puzzle #1135)
Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — July 20, 2026 (Puzzle #1135)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Monday, July 20, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – ANNOUNCE: BLARE, HERALD, SOUND, TRUMPET
- 🟩 Green – THINGS TO CLICK: BUTTON, ICON, LINK, MENU
- 🟦 Blue – ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS: BUBBLE TEA, OYSTER, SWINE, WISDOM
- 🟪 Purple – STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: ALEXA, MEADOW, PORTOBELLO, SAKES
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 Monday, July 20, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1135, 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 #1135
- Date: Monday, July 20, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1135
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
- Easiest Category: Yellow — ANNOUNCE
- Red Herring Warning: BUBBLE TEA is the biggest trap: the "pearls" (tapioca) pull it toward the Blue idiom group, but newer solvers may try to link it with MENU (drinks menu) in Green. SOUND can read as "sound advice," tempting a Blue placement, but it belongs with ANNOUNCE. PORTOBELLO looks like a mushroom/food item and can lure guesses toward a food theme instead of the PORT wine wordplay.
📖 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 20, 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.
BUTTON Connections Hint Today
BUTTON belongs to the Green group ("THINGS TO CLICK"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS TO CLICK".
Definition: BUTTON is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While BUTTON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
SOUND Connections Hint Today
SOUND belongs to the Yellow group ("ANNOUNCE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ANNOUNCE".
Definition: SOUND is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While SOUND has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
BLARE Connections Hint Today
BLARE belongs to the Yellow group ("ANNOUNCE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ANNOUNCE".
Definition: BLARE is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While BLARE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
HERALD Connections Hint Today
HERALD belongs to the Yellow group ("ANNOUNCE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ANNOUNCE".
Definition: HERALD is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While HERALD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
SAKES Connections Hint Today
SAKES belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
Definition: SAKES is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While SAKES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
WISDOM Connections Hint Today
WISDOM belongs to the Blue group ("ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
Definition: WISDOM is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While WISDOM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
SWINE Connections Hint Today
SWINE belongs to the Blue group ("ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
Definition: SWINE is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While SWINE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
LINK Connections Hint Today
LINK belongs to the Green group ("THINGS TO CLICK"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS TO CLICK".
Definition: LINK is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While LINK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
ALEXA Connections Hint Today
ALEXA belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
Definition: ALEXA is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While ALEXA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
MEADOW Connections Hint Today
MEADOW belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
Definition: MEADOW is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While MEADOW has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
OYSTER Connections Hint Today
OYSTER belongs to the Blue group ("ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
Definition: OYSTER is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While OYSTER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
ICON Connections Hint Today
ICON belongs to the Green group ("THINGS TO CLICK"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS TO CLICK".
Definition: ICON is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While ICON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
MENU Connections Hint Today
MENU belongs to the Green group ("THINGS TO CLICK"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS TO CLICK".
Definition: MENU is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While MENU has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
BUBBLE TEA Connections Hint Today
BUBBLE TEA belongs to the Blue group ("ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
Definition: BUBBLE TEA is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While BUBBLE TEA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
TRUMPET Connections Hint Today
TRUMPET belongs to the Yellow group ("ANNOUNCE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ANNOUNCE".
Definition: TRUMPET is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While TRUMPET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
PORTOBELLO Connections Hint Today
PORTOBELLO belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
Definition: PORTOBELLO is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While PORTOBELLO has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
BUTTON belongs to the Green group ("THINGS TO CLICK"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "THINGS TO CLICK".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: BUBBLE TEA is the biggest trap: the "pearls" (tapioca) pull it toward the Blue idiom group, but newer solvers may try to link it with MENU (drinks menu) in Green. SOUND can read as "sound advice," tempting a Blue placement, but it belongs with ANNOUNCE. PORTOBELLO looks like a mushroom/food item and can lure guesses toward a food theme instead of the PORT wine wordplay.
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections July 20, 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: These words all mean to loudly proclaim or make something publicly known.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: Look at your screen right now — you interact with all of these using your cursor.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: Think idioms and the little gem grown inside a mollusk.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: Read the first few letters out loud — there's a drink hiding at the start of each one.
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
These words all mean to loudly proclaim or make something publicly known.
Green Connections Hint Today
Look at your screen right now — you interact with all of these using your cursor.
Blue Connections Hint Today
Think idioms and the little gem grown inside a mollusk.
Purple Connections Hint Today
Read the first few letters out loud — there's a drink hiding at the start of each one.
⚠️ 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.
BUBBLE TEA is the biggest trap: the "pearls" (tapioca) pull it toward the Blue idiom group, but newer solvers may try to link it with MENU (drinks menu) in Green. SOUND can read as "sound advice," tempting a Blue placement, but it belongs with ANNOUNCE. PORTOBELLO looks like a mushroom/food item and can lure guesses toward a food theme instead of the PORT wine wordplay.
Words like BLARE and BUTTON might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BLARE is part of "ANNOUNCE" while BUTTON belongs to "THINGS TO CLICK". Don't group them together.
Words like BLARE and BUBBLE TEA might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BLARE is part of "ANNOUNCE" while BUBBLE TEA belongs to "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS". Don't group them together.
Words like BLARE and ALEXA might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BLARE is part of "ANNOUNCE" while ALEXA belongs to "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES". 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
ANNOUNCE
🟩 Green
THINGS TO CLICK
🟦 Blue
ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS
🟪 Purple
STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
🔥 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 | BLARE, HERALD | What other words fit the "ANNOUNCE" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | BUTTON, ICON | What other words fit the "THINGS TO CLICK" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | BUBBLE TEA, OYSTER | What other words fit the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | ALEXA, MEADOW | What other words fit the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, July 20, 2026 (Puzzle #1135)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Monday, July 20, 2026. Puzzle #1135 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — ANNOUNCE
🟩 Green — THINGS TO CLICK
🟦 Blue — ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS
🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1135 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — ANNOUNCE
The easiest category is "ANNOUNCE". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BLARE
BLARE is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While BLARE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
HERALD
HERALD is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While HERALD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
SOUND
SOUND is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While SOUND has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
TRUMPET
TRUMPET is one of the four words in the "ANNOUNCE" category. While TRUMPET has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ANNOUNCE".
🟩 Green (Medium) — THINGS TO CLICK
The medium category is "THINGS TO CLICK". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BUTTON
BUTTON is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While BUTTON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
ICON
ICON is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While ICON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
LINK
LINK is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While LINK has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
MENU
MENU is one of the four words in the "THINGS TO CLICK" category. While MENU has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "THINGS TO CLICK".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS
The hard category is "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BUBBLE TEA
BUBBLE TEA is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While BUBBLE TEA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
OYSTER
OYSTER is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While OYSTER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
SWINE
SWINE is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While SWINE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
WISDOM
WISDOM is one of the four words in the "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS" category. While WISDOM has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
The hardest category is "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
ALEXA
ALEXA is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While ALEXA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
MEADOW
MEADOW is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While MEADOW has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
PORTOBELLO
PORTOBELLO is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While PORTOBELLO has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
SAKES
SAKES is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" category. While SAKES has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — ANNOUNCE | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — THINGS TO CLICK | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1135
Start with the Purple wordplay group first — once you decode ALE-xa, MEAD-ow, PORT-obello, and SAKE-s, four unpredictable words leave the board and the remaining categories fall into place. Solve ANNOUNCE (Yellow) last since its synonyms are the most stable.
🎮 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 #1144
- 🟨 FASTENERS: NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE
- 🟩 NONDESCRIPT: BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA
- 🟦 UNITS OF WISDOM: GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD
- 🟪 ____BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE
❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Connections July 20, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1135 (July 20, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (ANNOUNCE): BLARE, HERALD, SOUND, TRUMPET | 🟩 Green (THINGS TO CLICK): BUTTON, ICON, LINK, MENU | 🟦 Blue (ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS): BUBBLE TEA, OYSTER, SWINE, WISDOM | 🟪 Purple (STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES): ALEXA, MEADOW, PORTOBELLO, SAKES.
The yellow category in today's Connections (July 20, 2026) is "ANNOUNCE" and the four answers are BLARE, HERALD, SOUND, TRUMPET.
The purple category in today's Connections (July 20, 2026) is "STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES" and the answers are ALEXA, MEADOW, PORTOBELLO, SAKES.
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 20, 2026, there have been 1,135 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1135
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1136 — 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.
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