Today's hints
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The answer
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Why this answer
The letters, categories, or grid logic that made this one tricky.
What made this one tricky:
- Connections is category-first: read the group labels as the answer, then use the listed cards to confirm no near-miss word belongs in a different color set.
CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, and LEAD can all mean to command. EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, and HONEYCRISP are apple varieties. CAMPER, CLARKS, CONVERSE, and CROCS are shoe brands beginning with C. ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, and OTTOMAN begin with the palindromic names ANNA, BOB, EVE, and OTTO.
Recent Connections answers
Stuck on a streak day? Past solves keep you moving.
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jul 27, 2026 | Connections #1142 | Gymnastics apparatus / Long tapered things / Kinds of shifts / Icons on a shopping site |
| Sun, Jul 26, 2026 | Connections #1141 | Baby milestones / Outmoded consumer tech / Expressions for rain / What “shell” might refer to |
| Sat, Jul 25, 2026 | Connections #1140 | Spanish relatives / Start to cry, with “up” / African currencies / STRIP ___ |
More from the desk
The apple group is the cleanest entry point, while the purple group supplies the main wordplay. After removing the four C-starting shoe brands, inspect the beginnings rather than the full meanings of ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, and OTTOMAN.
FAQ
What are today's NYT Connections answers for July 28, 2026?
The groups are Command; How do you like them apples; Shoe brands starting with C; and Starting with palindromic names.
What number is today's Connections puzzle?
The July 28, 2026 puzzle is Connections #1143.
What is the trickiest Connections group today?
The purple group starts with the palindromic names ANNA, BOB, EVE, and OTTO.
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