NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Thursday, July 23, 2026 (Puzzle #1138)
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — July 23, 2026 (Puzzle #1138)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Thursday, July 23, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – SPHERICAL THINGS: BASEBALL, GLOBE, MARBLE, ORANGE
- 🟩 Green – IN AN ANXIOUS STATE: EXCITED, FEBRILE, FRENETIC, INTENSE
- 🟦 Blue – PARTS OF AN AIRPORT: APRON, HANGAR, RUNWAY, TERMINAL
- 🟪 Purple – ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS: APPOINT, DEPLANE, FELINE, JANGLE
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 Thursday, July 23, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1138, 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 #1138
- Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1138
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS
- Easiest Category: Yellow — SPHERICAL THINGS
- Red Herring Warning: Watch out for DEPLANE! While it sounds like an airport action, it belongs in Purple because it ends with the geometry term "PLANE." The real airport word you need is APRON (the tarmac or ramp area). Furthermore, ORANGE ends in "RANGE" (a mathematical term), which can tempt you into a false geometry connection—it actually belongs with the round items in Yellow!
📖 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 23, 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.
EXCITED Connections Hint Today
EXCITED belongs to the Green group ("IN AN ANXIOUS STATE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
Definition: EXCITED is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While EXCITED has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
BASEBALL Connections Hint Today
BASEBALL belongs to the Yellow group ("SPHERICAL THINGS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
Definition: BASEBALL is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While BASEBALL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
FEBRILE Connections Hint Today
FEBRILE belongs to the Green group ("IN AN ANXIOUS STATE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
Definition: FEBRILE is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While FEBRILE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
APPOINT Connections Hint Today
APPOINT belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
Definition: APPOINT is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While APPOINT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
FELINE Connections Hint Today
FELINE belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
Definition: FELINE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While FELINE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
APRON Connections Hint Today
APRON belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF AN AIRPORT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
Definition: APRON is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While APRON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
DEPLANE Connections Hint Today
DEPLANE belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
Definition: DEPLANE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While DEPLANE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
MARBLE Connections Hint Today
MARBLE belongs to the Yellow group ("SPHERICAL THINGS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
Definition: MARBLE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While MARBLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
RUNWAY Connections Hint Today
RUNWAY belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF AN AIRPORT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
Definition: RUNWAY is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While RUNWAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
INTENSE Connections Hint Today
INTENSE belongs to the Green group ("IN AN ANXIOUS STATE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
Definition: INTENSE is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While INTENSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
GLOBE Connections Hint Today
GLOBE belongs to the Yellow group ("SPHERICAL THINGS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
Definition: GLOBE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While GLOBE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
FRENETIC Connections Hint Today
FRENETIC belongs to the Green group ("IN AN ANXIOUS STATE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
Definition: FRENETIC is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While FRENETIC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
JANGLE Connections Hint Today
JANGLE belongs to the Purple group ("ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
Definition: JANGLE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While JANGLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
TERMINAL Connections Hint Today
TERMINAL belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF AN AIRPORT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
Definition: TERMINAL is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While TERMINAL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
HANGAR Connections Hint Today
HANGAR belongs to the Blue group ("PARTS OF AN AIRPORT"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
Definition: HANGAR is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While HANGAR has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
ORANGE Connections Hint Today
ORANGE belongs to the Yellow group ("SPHERICAL THINGS"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
Definition: ORANGE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While ORANGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
EXCITED belongs to the Green group ("IN AN ANXIOUS STATE"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: Watch out for DEPLANE! While it sounds like an airport action, it belongs in Purple because it ends with the geometry term "PLANE." The real airport word you need is APRON (the tarmac or ramp area). Furthermore, ORANGE ends in "RANGE" (a mathematical term), which can tempt you into a false geometry connection—it actually belongs with the round items in Yellow!
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections July 23, 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: Round objects and 3D spheres you can hold, toss, or view.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: Adjectives describing someone feeling highly agitated, jittery, or worked up.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: Facilities, physical structures, and zones you will find at a major airline hub or flight tarmac.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: Pay close attention to the tail ends of these words—they all end in fundamental math/geometry terms (e.g., POINT, PLANE, LINE, ANGLE).
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
Round objects and 3D spheres you can hold, toss, or view.
Green Connections Hint Today
Adjectives describing someone feeling highly agitated, jittery, or worked up.
Blue Connections Hint Today
Facilities, physical structures, and zones you will find at a major airline hub or flight tarmac.
Purple Connections Hint Today
Pay close attention to the tail ends of these words—they all end in fundamental math/geometry terms (e.g., POINT, PLANE, LINE, ANGLE).
⚠️ 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.
Watch out for DEPLANE! While it sounds like an airport action, it belongs in Purple because it ends with the geometry term "PLANE." The real airport word you need is APRON (the tarmac or ramp area). Furthermore, ORANGE ends in "RANGE" (a mathematical term), which can tempt you into a false geometry connection—it actually belongs with the round items in Yellow!
Words like BASEBALL and EXCITED might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BASEBALL is part of "SPHERICAL THINGS" while EXCITED belongs to "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE". Don't group them together.
Words like BASEBALL and APRON might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BASEBALL is part of "SPHERICAL THINGS" while APRON belongs to "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT". Don't group them together.
Words like BASEBALL and APPOINT might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. BASEBALL is part of "SPHERICAL THINGS" while APPOINT belongs to "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS". 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
SPHERICAL THINGS
🟩 Green
IN AN ANXIOUS STATE
🟦 Blue
PARTS OF AN AIRPORT
🟪 Purple
ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS
🔥 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 | BASEBALL, GLOBE | What other words fit the "SPHERICAL THINGS" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | EXCITED, FEBRILE | What other words fit the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | APRON, HANGAR | What other words fit the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | APPOINT, DEPLANE | What other words fit the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, July 23, 2026 (Puzzle #1138)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Thursday, July 23, 2026. Puzzle #1138 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — SPHERICAL THINGS
🟩 Green — IN AN ANXIOUS STATE
🟦 Blue — PARTS OF AN AIRPORT
🟪 Purple — ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1138 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — SPHERICAL THINGS
The easiest category is "SPHERICAL THINGS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BASEBALL
BASEBALL is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While BASEBALL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
GLOBE
GLOBE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While GLOBE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
MARBLE
MARBLE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While MARBLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
ORANGE
ORANGE is one of the four words in the "SPHERICAL THINGS" category. While ORANGE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SPHERICAL THINGS".
🟩 Green (Medium) — IN AN ANXIOUS STATE
The medium category is "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
EXCITED
EXCITED is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While EXCITED has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
FEBRILE
FEBRILE is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While FEBRILE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
FRENETIC
FRENETIC is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While FRENETIC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
INTENSE
INTENSE is one of the four words in the "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE" category. While INTENSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "IN AN ANXIOUS STATE".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — PARTS OF AN AIRPORT
The hard category is "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
APRON
APRON is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While APRON has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
HANGAR
HANGAR is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While HANGAR has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
RUNWAY
RUNWAY is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While RUNWAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
TERMINAL
TERMINAL is one of the four words in the "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT" category. While TERMINAL has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "PARTS OF AN AIRPORT".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS
The hardest category is "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
APPOINT
APPOINT is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While APPOINT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
DEPLANE
DEPLANE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While DEPLANE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
FELINE
FELINE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While FELINE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
JANGLE
JANGLE is one of the four words in the "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" category. While JANGLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — SPHERICAL THINGS | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — IN AN ANXIOUS STATE | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — PARTS OF AN AIRPORT | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1138
Isolate the hidden geometry suffixes first (POINT, PLANE, LINE, ANGLE) to avoid falling into the DEPLANE trap. Once Purple is solved, the remaining airport zones (APRON, HANGAR, RUNWAY, TERMINAL) become much clearer.
🎮 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 23, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1138 (July 23, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (SPHERICAL THINGS): BASEBALL, GLOBE, MARBLE, ORANGE | 🟩 Green (IN AN ANXIOUS STATE): EXCITED, FEBRILE, FRENETIC, INTENSE | 🟦 Blue (PARTS OF AN AIRPORT): APRON, HANGAR, RUNWAY, TERMINAL | 🟪 Purple (ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS): APPOINT, DEPLANE, FELINE, JANGLE.
The yellow category in today's Connections (July 23, 2026) is "SPHERICAL THINGS" and the four answers are BASEBALL, GLOBE, MARBLE, ORANGE.
The purple category in today's Connections (July 23, 2026) is "ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS" and the answers are APPOINT, DEPLANE, FELINE, JANGLE.
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 23, 2026, there have been 1,138 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1138
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1139 — 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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