NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Saturday, July 4, 2026 (Puzzle #1119)
Written by Ranjit Kumar — Lead Editor & Puzzle Architect
Ranjit is a lifelong puzzle enthusiast and the creator of ConnectionsSports.com. He has analyzed 1,000+ Connections puzzles and helps thousands of daily players master the game.
Last Updated: | Fact-Checked: ✅ Verified | ✉️ Contact the Author
🧩 NYT Connections Answers Today — July 4, 2026 (Puzzle #1119)
Here are the complete answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle, Saturday, July 4, 2026:
- 🟨 Yellow – Persist: CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY
- 🟩 Green – Kinds Of Poems: BALLAD, EPIC, ODE, VILLANELLE
- 🟦 Blue – Tropical Drinks: HURRICANE, PAINKILLER, SCORPION, ZOMBIE
- 🟪 Purple – Sweet ___: DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT
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 Saturday, July 4, 2026. If you're stuck on Puzzle #1119, 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 #1119
- Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1119
- Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ (Medium)
- Trickiest Category: Purple — Sweet ___
- Easiest Category: Yellow — Persist
- Red Herring Warning: Deceptive patterns abound: HURRICANE and SCORPION evoke weather disasters or dangerous creatures rather than festive drinks; ZOMBIE and PAINKILLER sound ominous or medical; DREAMS pairs with LAST to suggest "dreams don't last" rather than separate categories; EPIC now means "awesome" in modern slang, obscuring its poetry origins; PEA appears completely random as a standalone word; SPOT could connect with LAST for "last spot"; CONTINUE and STAY might group with HURRICANE as weather conditions ("storm continues"). The purple category is masterfully hidden—DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, and SPOT seem utterly unconnected until the "sweet" prefix reveals the pattern. Without recognizing "sweet nothings" (romantic whispers) or "sweet pea" (flowering plant), solvers will be lost. VILLANELLE is particularly obscure—this 19-line form with ABA rhyme scheme challenges even literature majors.
📖 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 4, 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.
PEA Connections Hint Today
PEA belongs to the Purple group ("Sweet ___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Sweet ___".
Definition: PEA is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While PEA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
VILLANELLE Connections Hint Today
VILLANELLE belongs to the Green group ("Kinds Of Poems"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Kinds Of Poems".
Definition: VILLANELLE is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While VILLANELLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
ODE Connections Hint Today
ODE belongs to the Green group ("Kinds Of Poems"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Kinds Of Poems".
Definition: ODE is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While ODE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
BALLAD Connections Hint Today
BALLAD belongs to the Green group ("Kinds Of Poems"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Kinds Of Poems".
Definition: BALLAD is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While BALLAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
SCORPION Connections Hint Today
SCORPION belongs to the Blue group ("Tropical Drinks"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tropical Drinks".
Definition: SCORPION is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While SCORPION has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
DREAMS Connections Hint Today
DREAMS belongs to the Purple group ("Sweet ___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Sweet ___".
Definition: DREAMS is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While DREAMS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
EPIC Connections Hint Today
EPIC belongs to the Green group ("Kinds Of Poems"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Kinds Of Poems".
Definition: EPIC is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While EPIC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
STAY Connections Hint Today
STAY belongs to the Yellow group ("Persist"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Persist".
Definition: STAY is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While STAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
SPOT Connections Hint Today
SPOT belongs to the Purple group ("Sweet ___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Sweet ___".
Definition: SPOT is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While SPOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
LINGER Connections Hint Today
LINGER belongs to the Yellow group ("Persist"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Persist".
Definition: LINGER is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While LINGER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
PAINKILLER Connections Hint Today
PAINKILLER belongs to the Blue group ("Tropical Drinks"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tropical Drinks".
Definition: PAINKILLER is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While PAINKILLER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
CONTINUE Connections Hint Today
CONTINUE belongs to the Yellow group ("Persist"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Persist".
Definition: CONTINUE is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While CONTINUE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
ZOMBIE Connections Hint Today
ZOMBIE belongs to the Blue group ("Tropical Drinks"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tropical Drinks".
Definition: ZOMBIE is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While ZOMBIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
NOTHINGS Connections Hint Today
NOTHINGS belongs to the Purple group ("Sweet ___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Sweet ___".
Definition: NOTHINGS is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While NOTHINGS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
HURRICANE Connections Hint Today
HURRICANE belongs to the Blue group ("Tropical Drinks"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Tropical Drinks".
Definition: HURRICANE is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While HURRICANE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
LAST Connections Hint Today
LAST belongs to the Yellow group ("Persist"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Persist".
Definition: LAST is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While LAST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
PEA belongs to the Purple group ("Sweet ___"). Don't let its everyday meaning mislead you — in today's puzzle, think about how it connects to the theme of "Sweet ___".
⚠️ Red Herring Alert: Deceptive patterns abound: HURRICANE and SCORPION evoke weather disasters or dangerous creatures rather than festive drinks; ZOMBIE and PAINKILLER sound ominous or medical; DREAMS pairs with LAST to suggest "dreams don't last" rather than separate categories; EPIC now means "awesome" in modern slang, obscuring its poetry origins; PEA appears completely random as a standalone word; SPOT could connect with LAST for "last spot"; CONTINUE and STAY might group with HURRICANE as weather conditions ("storm continues"). The purple category is masterfully hidden—DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, and SPOT seem utterly unconnected until the "sweet" prefix reveals the pattern. Without recognizing "sweet nothings" (romantic whispers) or "sweet pea" (flowering plant), solvers will be lost. VILLANELLE is particularly obscure—this 19-line form with ABA rhyme scheme challenges even literature majors.
💡 Spoiler-Free Hints — NYT Connections July 4, 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 verbs all describe staying in existence, not leaving, or maintaining presence over time. Think about words meaning to endure or remain steadfast.
🟩 Green Group Hint
Theme Hint: Each represents a distinct form of verse or poetic structure. One tells stories, one recounts heroic deeds, one pays tribute, and one uses intricate repeated refrains.
🟦 Blue Group Hint
Theme Hint: You'd order these at a beachside tiki bar or Caribbean resort. All are rum-based concoctions with exotic, powerful names that hint at their potency.
🟪 Purple Group Hint
Theme Hint: Complete the phrase "sweet ___" with each of these words. You'll get a bedtime wish, romantic murmurs, a delicate flower, and an ideal position.
🔓 Reveal Answers Progressively
Reveal each group step-by-step. Click "See Hint", then "See Group Name", then individual words.
Yellow Connections Hint Today
These verbs all describe staying in existence, not leaving, or maintaining presence over time. Think about words meaning to endure or remain steadfast.
Green Connections Hint Today
Each represents a distinct form of verse or poetic structure. One tells stories, one recounts heroic deeds, one pays tribute, and one uses intricate repeated refrains.
Blue Connections Hint Today
You'd order these at a beachside tiki bar or Caribbean resort. All are rum-based concoctions with exotic, powerful names that hint at their potency.
Purple Connections Hint Today
Complete the phrase "sweet ___" with each of these words. You'll get a bedtime wish, romantic murmurs, a delicate flower, and an ideal position.
⚠️ 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.
Deceptive patterns abound: HURRICANE and SCORPION evoke weather disasters or dangerous creatures rather than festive drinks; ZOMBIE and PAINKILLER sound ominous or medical; DREAMS pairs with LAST to suggest "dreams don't last" rather than separate categories; EPIC now means "awesome" in modern slang, obscuring its poetry origins; PEA appears completely random as a standalone word; SPOT could connect with LAST for "last spot"; CONTINUE and STAY might group with HURRICANE as weather conditions ("storm continues"). The purple category is masterfully hidden—DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, and SPOT seem utterly unconnected until the "sweet" prefix reveals the pattern. Without recognizing "sweet nothings" (romantic whispers) or "sweet pea" (flowering plant), solvers will be lost. VILLANELLE is particularly obscure—this 19-line form with ABA rhyme scheme challenges even literature majors.
Words like CONTINUE and BALLAD might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CONTINUE is part of "Persist" while BALLAD belongs to "Kinds Of Poems". Don't group them together.
Words like CONTINUE and HURRICANE might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CONTINUE is part of "Persist" while HURRICANE belongs to "Tropical Drinks". Don't group them together.
Words like CONTINUE and DREAMS might seem related at first glance, but they belong to completely different categories. CONTINUE is part of "Persist" while DREAMS belongs to "Sweet ___". 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
PERSIST
🟩 Green
KINDS OF POEMS
🟦 Blue
TROPICAL DRINKS
🟪 Purple
SWEET ___
🔥 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 | CONTINUE, LAST | What other words fit the "Persist" theme? |
| 🟩 Green | BALLAD, EPIC | What other words fit the "Kinds Of Poems" theme? |
| 🟦 Blue | HURRICANE, PAINKILLER | What other words fit the "Tropical Drinks" theme? |
| 🟪 Purple | DREAMS, NOTHINGS | What other words fit the "Sweet ___" theme? |
✅ Full Answers — NYT Connections Today, July 4, 2026 (Puzzle #1119)
Here are the complete NYT Connections answers for today, Saturday, July 4, 2026. Puzzle #1119 is fully solved below.
🟨 Yellow — Persist
🟩 Green — Kinds Of Poems
🟦 Blue — Tropical Drinks
🟪 Purple — Sweet ___
🔍 Per-Word Explanations — Every Answer Defined
Let's dive deep into every word in today's Connections Puzzle #1119 — what each word means, why it belongs to its group, and how the puzzle uses it.
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — Persist
The easiest category is "Persist". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
CONTINUE
CONTINUE is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While CONTINUE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
LAST
LAST is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While LAST has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
LINGER
LINGER is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While LINGER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
STAY
STAY is one of the four words in the "Persist" category. While STAY has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Persist".
🟩 Green (Medium) — Kinds Of Poems
The medium category is "Kinds Of Poems". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
BALLAD
BALLAD is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While BALLAD has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
EPIC
EPIC is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While EPIC has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
ODE
ODE is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While ODE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
VILLANELLE
VILLANELLE is one of the four words in the "Kinds Of Poems" category. While VILLANELLE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Kinds Of Poems".
🟦 Blue (Hard) — Tropical Drinks
The hard category is "Tropical Drinks". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
HURRICANE
HURRICANE is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While HURRICANE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
PAINKILLER
PAINKILLER is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While PAINKILLER has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
SCORPION
SCORPION is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While SCORPION has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
ZOMBIE
ZOMBIE is one of the four words in the "Tropical Drinks" category. While ZOMBIE has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Tropical Drinks".
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — Sweet ___
The hardest category is "Sweet ___". Here's what each word means and why it belongs:
DREAMS
DREAMS is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While DREAMS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
NOTHINGS
NOTHINGS is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While NOTHINGS has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
PEA
PEA is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While PEA has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
SPOT
SPOT is one of the four words in the "Sweet ___" category. While SPOT has many common meanings, in this Connections puzzle it specifically relates to the concept of "Sweet ___".
📊 Difficulty Analysis & Strategy Tips
| Group | Difficulty | Solve Order |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow — Persist | ⭐ Easy | Solve FIRST — the easiest category |
| 🟩 Green — Kinds Of Poems | ⭐⭐ Medium | Solve SECOND |
| 🟦 Blue — Tropical Drinks | ⭐⭐⭐ Hard | Solve THIRD |
| 🟪 Purple — Sweet ___ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Hard | Solve LAST or by elimination |
🎯 Pro Strategy for Puzzle #1119
Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) - Moderate Complexity. Solving Path: Attack yellow first—CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY clearly share persistence/duration meanings. For green, literary knowledge is essential: BALLAD (narrative song-poems), EPIC (lengthy heroic verse like Beowulf/Iliad), ODE ("Ode to a Nightingale"), VILLANELLE (Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" exemplifies this form's repeated refrains). Blue demands cocktail literacy: HURRICANE (Pat O'Brien's 1940s creation), PAINKILLER (Pusser's Rum signature), SCORPION (communal tiki bowl), ZOMBIE (legendarily strong Donn Beach recipe with multiple rums). Purple's "sweet ___" construction is the puzzle's crescendo: sweet DREAMS (lullaby phrase), sweet NOTHINGS (whispered endearments), sweet PEA (fragrant flower/affectionate nickname), sweet SPOT (perfect zone/timing). Critical Recognition: PEA makes zero sense solo but becomes obvious with "sweet" prefix. This Independence Day puzzle honors American literary tradition while celebrating summer pleasures.
🎮 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 4, 2026
The answers for NYT Connections Puzzle #1119 (July 4, 2026) are: 🟨 Yellow (Persist): CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY | 🟩 Green (Kinds Of Poems): BALLAD, EPIC, ODE, VILLANELLE | 🟦 Blue (Tropical Drinks): HURRICANE, PAINKILLER, SCORPION, ZOMBIE | 🟪 Purple (Sweet ___): DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT.
The yellow category in today's Connections (July 4, 2026) is "Persist" and the four answers are CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY.
The purple category in today's Connections (July 4, 2026) is "Sweet ___" and the answers are DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT.
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 4, 2026, there have been 1,119 NYT Connections puzzles since the game launched on June 12, 2023.
🏆 That's Today's NYT Connections Solved — Puzzle #1119
Come back tomorrow for Puzzle #1120 — 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.
🔗 Explore More on ConnectionsSports.com
