NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Tuesday, July 28, 2026 (Puzzle #1143)
Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect
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🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — July 28, 2026 (Puzzle #1143)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Tuesday, July 28, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – COMMAND: CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD
- 🟩 Green – HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES: EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, HONEYCRISP
- 🟦 Blue – SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C": CAMPER, CLARKS, CONVERSE, CROCS
- 🟪 Purple – STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES: ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, OTTOMAN
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 Tuesday, July 28, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1143, 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 #1143
- Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1143
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
- Easiest Category: Yellow — COMMAND
- Red Herring Warning: Watch out for "FUJI" and "EMPIRE"! It’s easy to try grouping FUJI and EVEREST together as famous mountains, or EMPIRE and OTTOMAN as historical empires/dynasties. However, FUJI and EMPIRE belong to the apple varieties group, while EVEREST and OTTOMAN are part of the wordplay group starting with palindromic names (Eve and Otto).
📖 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 28, 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.
EMPIRE Connections Hint Today
EMPIRE belongs to the Green group ("HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
Definition: EMPIRE is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While EMPIRE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
LEAD Connections Hint Today
LEAD belongs to the Yellow group ("COMMAND"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "COMMAND".
Definition: LEAD is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While LEAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
CAMPER Connections Hint Today
CAMPER belongs to the Blue group ("SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C""). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
Definition: CAMPER is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CAMPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
EVEREST Connections Hint Today
EVEREST belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
Definition: EVEREST is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While EVEREST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
FUJI Connections Hint Today
FUJI belongs to the Green group ("HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
Definition: FUJI is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While FUJI has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
HONEYCRISP Connections Hint Today
HONEYCRISP belongs to the Green group ("HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
Definition: HONEYCRISP is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While HONEYCRISP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
HEAD Connections Hint Today
HEAD belongs to the Yellow group ("COMMAND"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "COMMAND".
Definition: HEAD is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While HEAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
BOBSLED Connections Hint Today
BOBSLED belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
Definition: BOBSLED is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While BOBSLED has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
CONVERSE Connections Hint Today
CONVERSE belongs to the Blue group ("SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C""). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
Definition: CONVERSE is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CONVERSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
DIRECT Connections Hint Today
DIRECT belongs to the Yellow group ("COMMAND"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "COMMAND".
Definition: DIRECT is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While DIRECT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
GALA Connections Hint Today
GALA belongs to the Green group ("HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
Definition: GALA is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While GALA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
ANNAPOLIS Connections Hint Today
ANNAPOLIS belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
Definition: ANNAPOLIS is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While ANNAPOLIS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
OTTOMAN Connections Hint Today
OTTOMAN belongs to the Purple group ("STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
Definition: OTTOMAN is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While OTTOMAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
CAPTAIN Connections Hint Today
CAPTAIN belongs to the Yellow group ("COMMAND"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "COMMAND".
Definition: CAPTAIN is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While CAPTAIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
CLARKS Connections Hint Today
CLARKS belongs to the Blue group ("SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C""). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
Definition: CLARKS is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CLARKS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
CROCS Connections Hint Today
CROCS belongs to the Blue group ("SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C""). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
Definition: CROCS is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CROCS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
EMPIRE belongs to the Green group ("HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: Watch out for "FUJI" and "EMPIRE"! It’s easy to try grouping FUJI and EVEREST together as famous mountains, or EMPIRE and OTTOMAN as historical empires/dynasties. However, FUJI and EMPIRE belong to the apple varieties group, while EVEREST and OTTOMAN are part of the wordplay group starting with palindromic names (Eve and Otto).
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections July 28, 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: Words that mean to guide, manage, supervise, or take charge of a group or project.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: Popular crisp and sweet fruit varieties you’d find in the produce aisle or at an orchard.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: Well-known footwear companies and sneaker manufacturers that begin with the third letter of the alphabet.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: Look closely at the first few letters of each word—they spell out names that read the same forward and backward (palindromes)!
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
Words that mean to guide, manage, supervise, or take charge of a group or project.
Green Connections Hint Today
Popular crisp and sweet fruit varieties you’d find in the produce aisle or at an orchard.
Blue Connections Hint Today
Well-known footwear companies and sneaker manufacturers that begin with the third letter of the alphabet.
Purple Connections Hint Today
Look closely at the first few letters of each word—they spell out names that read the same forward and backward (palindromes)!
⚠️ 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 "FUJI" and "EMPIRE"! It’s easy to try grouping FUJI and EVEREST together as famous mountains, or EMPIRE and OTTOMAN as historical empires/dynasties. However, FUJI and EMPIRE belong to the apple varieties group, while EVEREST and OTTOMAN are part of the wordplay group starting with palindromic names (Eve and Otto).
Words like CAPTAIN and EMPIRE might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CAPTAIN is part of "COMMAND" while EMPIRE belongs to "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES". Don't group them together.
Words like CAPTAIN and CAMPER might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CAPTAIN is part of "COMMAND" while CAMPER belongs to "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"". Don't group them together.
Words like CAPTAIN and ANNAPOLIS might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CAPTAIN is part of "COMMAND" while ANNAPOLIS belongs to "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES". 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
COMMAND
🟩 Green
HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
🟦 Blue
SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
🟪 Purple
STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
🔥 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 | CAPTAIN, DIRECT | What other words fit the "COMMAND" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | EMPIRE, FUJI | What other words fit the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | CAMPER, CLARKS | What other words fit the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED | What other words fit the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, July 28, 2026 (Puzzle #1143)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Puzzle #1143 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — COMMAND
🟩 Green — HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
🟦 Blue — SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1143 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — COMMAND
The easiest category is "COMMAND". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CAPTAIN
CAPTAIN is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While CAPTAIN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
DIRECT
DIRECT is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While DIRECT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
HEAD
HEAD is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While HEAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
LEAD
LEAD is one of the four words in the "COMMAND" category. While LEAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "COMMAND".
🟩 Green (Medium) — HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
The medium category is "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
EMPIRE
EMPIRE is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While EMPIRE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
FUJI
FUJI is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While FUJI has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
GALA
GALA is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While GALA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
HONEYCRISP
HONEYCRISP is one of the four words in the "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES" category. While HONEYCRISP has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
The hard category is "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CAMPER
CAMPER is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CAMPER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
CLARKS
CLARKS is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CLARKS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
CONVERSE
CONVERSE is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CONVERSE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
CROCS
CROCS is one of the four words in the "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"" category. While CROCS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
The hardest category is "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
ANNAPOLIS
ANNAPOLIS is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While ANNAPOLIS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
BOBSLED
BOBSLED is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While BOBSLED has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
EVEREST
EVEREST is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While EVEREST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
OTTOMAN
OTTOMAN is one of the four words in the "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" category. While OTTOMAN has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — COMMAND | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C" | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1143
Start by locking down COMMAND (Yellow) and HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES (Green), as verbs like DIRECT / LEAD and well-known fruits like HONEYCRISP / GALA leave little room for error. Next, isolate the footwear manufacturers for SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C" (Blue). Once those are cleared, examine the prefix letters of the remaining words to uncover the hidden palindromes (Annapolis, Bobsled, Everest, Ottoman) for Purple.
🎮 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 28, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1143 (July 28, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (COMMAND): CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD | 🟩 Green (HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES): EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, HONEYCRISP | 🟦 Blue (SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"): CAMPER, CLARKS, CONVERSE, CROCS | 🟪 Purple (STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES): ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, OTTOMAN.
The yellow category in today's Connections (July 28, 2026) is "COMMAND" and the four answers are CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD.
The purple category in today's Connections (July 28, 2026) is "STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES" and the answers are ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, OTTOMAN.
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 28, 2026, there have been 1,143 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1143
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1144 — 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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