NYT Connections Answer

Another day, another grid! If you’re tackling the July 18, 2026, puzzle, you might find yourself bouncing between the basketball court and the arcade. Today’s set was a balanced mix of straightforward categories and a few "wait, does that fit there?" moments.

If you’re looking for an NYT Connections hint to keep your streak alive, or if you’re ready for the full answer for 2026-07-18, I’ve got you covered.

Hints for Today's Groups

If you want to solve it yourself, here are some nudges in the right direction:

• Yellow Group: Think about things a referee would blow a whistle for in a specific sport.
• Green Group: These words all relate to your perspective or what you think about a subject.
• Blue Group: If you were looking at a screen while holding a controller, you’d see these numbers.
• Purple Group: All of these words can follow a common three-letter "exploding" word.

Detailed Solution and Explanations

Now, let's break down the categories. If you're stuck on those last few words, here is how they all shake out.

Yellow: Commit a Basketball Violation

This group is for the sports fans. Each of these terms represents an illegal move in basketball that results in a turnover or a penalty.

• CARRY: When a player continues to dribble after allowing the ball to come to rest in one or both hands.
• DOUBLE DRIBBLE: Dribbling the ball with two hands at the same time or stopping and starting again.
• GOALTEND: Interfering with the ball while it is on its downward path toward the basket.
• TRAVEL: Taking too many steps without dribbling the ball.

Green: Belief

These words are synonyms for a person’s outlook or perspective. While "MIND" might feel a little broad, in the context of "a frame of mind," it fits perfectly with the others.

• ATTITUDE: A settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something.
• MIND: One's opinion or way of thinking (e.g., "Speak your mind").
• OPINION: A view or judgment formed about something.
• VIEW: A particular way of considering or regarding something.

Blue: Things Tracked in Video Games

If you’ve ever played a platformer or an action game, these are the metrics you are constantly monitoring on your HUD (Heads-Up Display).

• HEALTH: Often represented by a red bar or hearts.
• LIVES: How many "retries" you have left before a Game Over.
• SCORE: Your total points accumulated.
• TIME: The countdown clock or the duration of your run.

Purple: Words After "Pop"

The dreaded purple category! Today, we’re looking for words that follow the word "Pop" to create common compound words or phrases.

• CULTURE: Pop Culture (The arts and entertainment popular with the general public).
• FLY: Pop Fly (A high hit ball in baseball).
• QUIZ: Pop Quiz (A surprise test in school).
• TART: Pop-Tart (The iconic toaster pastry).

Final Thoughts for July 18, 2026

Today’s puzzle wasn't too punishing, though "MIND" in the Belief category felt like a bit of a curveball compared to the more obvious "OPINION." The basketball terms (Yellow) were likely the easiest entry point for most players, followed by the gaming metrics (Blue).

Did the Pop Fly get you caught in a baseball mindset, or did you see the Pop-Tart connection immediately?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play NYT Connections?

In Connections, you are presented with a grid of 16 words. You must group them into four sets of four by finding a common thread between them. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (trickiest).

When does the NYT Connections reset?

New puzzles are released daily at midnight local time.

Can I use the same word in two different groups?

No. While Wyna Liu (the editor) often includes "red herrings" (words that seem to fit in multiple categories), each word has only one correct home within the final four-by-four solution.

What is a "Pop Fly"?

In baseball, a Pop Fly is a ball hit high into the air, usually in the infield or shallow outfield, making it relatively easy for a fielder to catch for an out.