Today's hints
Each hint nudges harder. Stop reading whenever the word lands.
The answer
Tap to reveal. We blur it so you don’t scroll past the hints by accident.
Answer is hidden until you activate the reveal button.
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.
COMMIT A BASKETBALL VIOLATION is CARRY, DOUBLE DRIBBLE, GOALTEND, and TRAVEL. ATTITUDE, MIND, OPINION, and VIEW all work as beliefs. HEALTH, LIVES, SCORE, and TIME are tracked in games, while CULTURE, FLY, QUIZ, and TART complete phrases after POP.
Recent Connections answers
Stuck on a streak day? Past solves keep you moving.
Catching up? Here are the most recent solutions.
| Date | Puzzle | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jul 17, 2026 | #1132 | GRAND FINALE / SEEN IN AN ARCADE / FOUR GROUPS OF FOUR / ENDING IN PARTS OF A CAR |
| Thu, Jul 16, 2026 | #1131 | SKINCARE PRODUCTS / SHADES OF BLACK / ASSOCIATED WITH PRECISION / STARTING WITH TINY MARKS |
| Wed, Jul 15, 2026 | #1130 | TERMS FOR THE LEGAL SYSTEM / THINGS WITH LACES / KINDS OF SPORTS / WORDS BEFORE "ROOM" TO INDICATE EXTRA SPACE |
More from the desk
The purple group is easier once POP CULTURE appears. From there, POP FLY, POP QUIZ, and POP TART turn three ordinary words into a phrase set rather than a food or trivia group.
FAQ
What are today's NYT Connections answers for July 18, 2026?
The groups are Commit a basketball violation; Belief; Things tracked in video games; and Words after "pop".
What is today's Connections puzzle number?
Today's Connections puzzle is #1133.
What was the hardest Connections category today?
The purple category was Words after "pop": CULTURE, FLY, QUIZ, and TART.
Get tomorrow's hints in your inbox
Daily Connections hints, answers, and trivia — sent fresh at midnight ET.