NYT Connections Answer

Welcome back to another day of NYT Connections! If you’re checking this on July 20, 2026, you’re likely staring at a grid that feels like a mix of computer science and a fancy dinner party.

Today's puzzle, curated by Wyna Liu, offers a satisfying blend of straightforward synonyms and some truly clever "hidden word" tricks. Whether you're stuck on the final two categories or just need a little nudge to get started, I’ve got the breakdown for you.

Here is the answer for 2026-07-20 to help you keep your streak alive!

Puzzle Overview

At first glance, today's grid looks like it might be about sound or technology. Words like ICON, BUTTON, and SOUND jump out immediately. However, as is tradition with Connections, those initial "obvious" pairings might be there to lead you astray.

The difficulty today is moderate. The Yellow and Green groups are quite accessible, but the Blue and Purple categories require some creative "outside the box" thinking regarding idioms and hidden prefixes.

Yellow: ANNOUNCE

These words all relate to the act of making a public declaration, often with a sense of loudness or importance.

• NYT Connections Hint: Think of ways to shout something from the rooftops or signal a grand arrival.
• The Answer: BLARE, HERALD, SOUND, TRUMPET

Why they fit: While SOUND can be a noun, here it is a verb (as in "to sound the alarm"). BLARE and TRUMPET imply a loud, brassy announcement, while HERALD means to signal that something is coming.

Green: THINGS TO CLICK

If you spend any time on a computer or smartphone, this group should feel familiar. These are all interactive elements of a user interface (UI).

• NYT Connections Hint: You’ll find all of these on your favorite website or app.
• The Answer: BUTTON, ICON, LINK, MENU

Why they fit: These are the fundamental building blocks of digital navigation. You click a BUTTON to submit, an ICON to open an app, a LINK to visit a new page, and a MENU to see more options.

Blue: ASSOCIATED WITH PEARLS

This category is a bit more abstract. It looks at different contexts where the word "pearl" appears—whether physically or metaphorically.

• NYT Connections Hint: One is a drink, one is a biological home, one is an idiom, and one is a metaphor.
• The Answer: BUBBLE TEA, OYSTER, SWINE, WISDOM

Why they fit:

• BUBBLE TEA: Contains "tapioca pearls."
• OYSTER: The natural mollusk that creates pearls.
• SWINE: From the idiom "casting pearls before swine."
• WISDOM: A common metaphor for a valuable piece of advice ("pearls of wisdom").

Purple: STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

This is the "trick" category for the day. To solve this, you have to look at the first few letters of each word rather than the meaning of the word itself.

• NYT Connections Hint: Pour yourself a drink and look at the beginning of each word.
• The Answer: ALEXA, MEADOW, PORTOBELLO, SAKES

Why they fit: Each word begins with a common alcoholic drink:

• ALE-xa (Ale)
• MEAD-ow (Mead)
• PORT-obello (Port)
• SAKE-s (Sake)

This was a classic Purple category—once you see it, it’s impossible to un-see!

Summary for July 20, 2026

If you were looking for the NYT Connections hint to get you through a tough spot, I hope this breakdown helped. Today’s puzzle really rewarded players who could pivot from the literal meanings of the words (like ALEXA being an AI) to the structural composition of the words (the ALE inside).

Good luck with tomorrow's grid!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play NYT Connections?

In Connections, you are given 16 words and must group them into four sets of four based on a shared theme. Each group is color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest). You have four lives; a mistake costs one life.

When does NYT Connections reset?

The New York Times puzzles, including Connections, Wordle, and the Mini Crossword, typically reset at midnight local time. If you’re using the app, you’ll see the new puzzle as soon as the clock strikes 12:00 AM in your time zone.

What are the different colors in Connections?

The colors represent the "straightforwardness" of the connection. Yellow is usually a direct synonym. Green and Blue involve more complex themes or common phrases. Purple is the most cryptic, often involving wordplay, homophones, or hidden words.