NYT Connections Today: Hints and Answers for July 28, 2026

Welcome to another daily breakdown of the NYT Connections puzzle! If you’re waking up on July 28, 2026, and finding your morning coffee isn't quite enough to crack today’s grid, don't worry—I’ve got you covered.

Today’s puzzle, curated by Wyna Liu, offers a fantastic mix of literal synonyms, consumer brands, and a very clever wordplay category that might have you scratching your head. Let's dive into the NYT Connections hint and the full answer for 2026-07-28.

Today's Puzzle Overview

The grid for July 28 starts off looking fairly approachable, but there are a few overlaps that could trip you up. For instance, "Captain" and "Head" feel like they could belong to several groups. However, once you spot the fruit and the footwear, the rest of the board starts to clear up.

Hints for Today's Categories

Before we reveal the full answers, here are some nudges to help you solve it on your own:

1. Yellow Category: Think about what a boss or a navigator does.
2. Green Category: These are all items you might find in a produce aisle or an orchard.
3. Blue Category: These all share a common first letter and are found on your feet.
4. Purple Category: Look at the first few letters of each word. Is there a name hidden there? And is that name special in a certain way?

Yellow: Command

The yellow category is often the most straightforward, focusing on direct synonyms. Today, it’s all about taking charge.

• CAPTAIN
• DIRECT
• HEAD
• LEAD

Explanation: These are all verbs that mean to be in charge of or to guide a group or project. Whether you are leading a team or directing a film, you are the one at the helm.

Green: How Do You Like Them Apples

If you’re a fan of autumn snacks, this one likely jumped out at you immediately.

• EMPIRE
• FUJI
• GALA
• HONEYCRISP

Explanation: These are all popular varieties of apples. While "Empire" and "Fuji" might sound like they belong to geography or history categories, in this context, they are strictly delicious fruit.

Blue: Shoe Brands Starting With "C"

This category requires a bit of brand knowledge. If you've been shopping for footwear lately, this was likely your second solve.

• CAMPER
• CLARKS
• CONVERSE
• CROCS

Explanation: Every word in this group is a well-known shoe brand, and they all happen to start with the letter "C".

Purple: Starting With Palindromic Names

This is the "trick" category for today. It requires you to look at the structure of the words rather than their definitions.

• ANNAPOLIS (Anna)
• BOBSLED (Bob)
• EVEREST (Eve)
• OTTOMAN (Otto)

Explanation: Each of these words begins with a name that is a palindrome (it reads the same forward and backward). Annapolis, Bobsled, Everest, and Ottoman. This is classic Wyna Liu wordplay!

Final Thoughts for July 28

Today’s puzzle was a masterclass in diversion. Seeing "Fuji" and "Everest" might make you think of mountains, while "Captain" and "Empire" might suggest military or history. The key today was separating the apple varieties from the palindromic names.

If you struggled with the answer for 2026-07-28, don't feel bad—the purple category was particularly sneaky!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NYT Connections?

Connections is a daily word game from The New York Times where players must group 16 words into four categories of four based on a common link.

When does the NYT Connections puzzle reset?

The puzzle resets daily at midnight in your local time zone.

How do I win NYT Connections?

To win, you must identify all four groups without making more than four mistakes. The categories are color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).

Is there a new NYT Connections hint every day?

Yes! There is a new puzzle every single day, and you can always find hints and solutions online if you get stuck on a tricky grid.