NYT Connections Answer

July 03, 2026

🧩 Today's Puzzle

HOT DRINK
RUNAROUND
FELICITY
SHIRT
WARM FUZZIES
GOSSIP
COOL BEANS
DIRTY LOOK
COLD SHOULDER
HAPPINESS
RIGHT ON
HARD TIME
FAR OUT
GOLF ACCESSORY
BLISS
GROOVY

✅ NytConnections Solution

POSITIVE FEELINGS
BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS, WARM FUZZIES
RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL
COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, RIGHT ON
BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE
COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME, RUNAROUND
WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO
GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK, SHIRT

Welcome to your daily guide for the NYT Connections puzzle! If you’re tackling the board for July 3, 2026, you’re in for a treat. Today’s puzzle, curated by Wyna Liu, balances some delightful retro slang with a clever phonetic twist that might just trip you up if you aren't paying close attention.

Whether you are looking for a gentle NYT Connections hint or the full answer for 2026-07-03, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and see if we can secure that perfect win before the holiday celebrations begin!

Quick Hints to Get You Started

Before we reveal the groups, here are some nudges to help you solve it yourself:

  • Yellow: Think about that fuzzy feeling in your chest when everything is going right.
  • Green: Imagine you're a surfer in the 70s or a quirky teen in the 90s.
  • Blue: These are things you "give" to someone when you aren't being very nice.
  • Purple: Say these words out loud—they all sound like a single letter of the alphabet.

Yellow: Positive Feelings

These words all describe a state of joy or a sense of emotional well-being. This was a relatively straightforward group to spot, though one word might sound like a name!

  • BLISS: Perfect happiness; great joy.
  • FELICITY: Intense happiness (also a classic name!).
  • HAPPINESS: The state of being happy.
  • WARM FUZZIES: A comfortable sense of affection or well-being.

Green: Retro Expressions of Approval

This category is a blast from the past. These are slang terms used across different decades to say "That’s great!" or "I agree."

  • COOL BEANS: A quirky 90s way to say "cool."
  • FAR OUT: A classic 60s/70s hippie expression of amazement.
  • GROOVY: The ultimate 60s descriptor for something excellent.
  • RIGHT ON: An expression of strong agreement or support.

Blue: Bad Things to Give Someone

If you're trying to make someone's life difficult, you might "give" them one of these. These are common idioms for negative social interactions.

  • COLD SHOULDER: To intentionally ignore someone.
  • DIRTY LOOK: A facial expression showing disapproval or disgust.
  • HARD TIME: To make a situation difficult for someone or to tease them.
  • RUNAROUND: To give someone evasive or misleading information to avoid helping them.

Purple: What Things Pronounced "T" Might Refer To

The trickiest category of the day! Each of these clues describes a word that is pronounced exactly like the letter "T."

  • GOLF ACCESSORY: A Tee.
  • GOSSIP: The "tea" (as in "spilling the tea").
  • HOT DRINK: Tea.
  • SHIRT: A T-shirt.

The Full Answer for July 3, 2026

If you just want to see the completed grid, here is the official answer for 2026-07-03:

  • POSITIVE FEELINGS: BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS, WARM FUZZIES
  • RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL: COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, RIGHT ON
  • BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE: COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME, RUNAROUND
  • WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO: GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK, SHIRT

Reflections on Today's Puzzle

Today's grid was a fun journey through time. The Green category felt like a nostalgic trip, while Purple required that classic "Connections" lateral thinking. I almost put "FELICITY" with the names, but once I saw "BLISS," the emotional theme clicked. The "T" category was the toughest, specifically linking "GOSSIP" (tea) with "GOLF ACCESSORY" (tee).

How did you do? Did the "COOL BEANS" throw you off, or did you breeze through it?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do you play NYT Connections?

In Connections, you are presented with a 16-word grid. Your goal is to group the words into four sets of four that share a common link. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest/most abstract). You have four lives—every incorrect guess costs you one.

When does the NYT Connections puzzle reset?

The New York Times releases a new Connections puzzle every day at midnight in your local timezone.

Is there a new Connections puzzle every day?

Yes! Much like The Wordle and The Mini Crossword, Connections is a daily feature on the NYT Games app and website, providing a fresh challenge every morning.

Can I play past NYT Connections puzzles?

While the official NYT site mainly features the current day's puzzle, there are several fan-made archives online where you can play previous games if you missed a day!