Connections Hint
Puzzle #1139 · July 24, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for July 24, 2026

Start with the spoiler-free hints. Go deeper only when you need to. Reveal answers on your own terms.

Friday, July 24, 2026
Get the hintsSpoiler-free · three levels ↓ Skip to answersJust give me the solution →
Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
STRIKEOUTSINGLEJOGLLAMACANTERWALKDRONESPARKHOME RUNNONEREFRESHRAMBLEYAKFRYERBABBLEPROMPT

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • Words that keep the conversation going, perhaps too much.
  • They span the spectrum from triumph to defeat in a turn.
  • These words can bring back something you thought was lost.
  • When you say them aloud, they hint at something else entirely.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • These are all verbs that describe a long-winded style of communication.
  • In baseball, these are the possible results when a player faces a pitcher.
  • They relate to mental cues that help you recall something stored away.
  • Focus on how these words sound, not their definitions.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • These are all synonyms for talk endlessly or prattle on.
  • A batter in baseball can end up with one of these four results after facing a pitcher.
  • These words all mean to trigger a memory or thought.
  • Each of these words, when pronounced, matches the sound of a religious figure or position.

Today’s Trap Words

The words engineered to mislead

Every Connections board plants a few decoys. Here are today’s, and why they pull you the wrong way.

LLAMA

Seems like an animal name, and could lead solvers to group it with other animal-related words like YAK or CANTER.

YAK

An animal that could form a false 'zoo' category with LLAMA, DRONE (insect), and CANTER (horse gait).

CANTER

A horse's gait, which might be erroneously grouped with other animal-associated terms.

DRONE

While it can mean to talk monotonously, it's also a male bee, drawing it toward a potential animal group.

Connections Answers — July 24, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
TALK AT LENGTH
YAK · RAMBLE · DRONE · BABBLE
Tap to reveal
OUTCOMES FOR A BATTER
WALK · SINGLE · STRIKEOUT · HOME RUN
Tap to reveal
BRING TO MIND, AS A MEMORY
SPARK · JOG · PROMPT · REFRESH
Tap to reveal
HOMOPHONES OF RELIGIOUS ROLES
CANTER · LLAMA · NONE · FRYER
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for July 24, 2026 NYT Pips hints for July 24, 2026 NYT Strands hints for July 24, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1139

Why each group works — not just what it is

TALK AT LENGTH

These four words all mean to speak in a lengthy or monotonous way. While BABBLE, DRONE, and RAMBLE are clear synonyms, YAK is a trickier inclusion because it also names an animal, but it’s a valid verb meaning to chatter incessantly.

OUTCOMES FOR A BATTER

In baseball, when a batter steps up to the plate, these are the four main ways their appearance can end: a WALK (free base), a SINGLE (one-base hit), a STRIKEOUT (three strikes, out), or the ultimate prize, a HOME RUN (hitting the ball over the fence). It’s a tidy set of baseball’s hitting results.

BRING TO MIND, AS A MEMORY

Each of these verbs can pair with 'memory' or 'recollection' to mean triggering a remembrance. JOG, PROMPT, REFRESH, and SPARK all suggest nudging the mind to recall something, but they might be confused with more literal actions like running or lighting a flame.

HOMOPHONES OF RELIGIOUS ROLES

The twist is auditory: CANTER sounds like 'cantor' (singer in a synagogue), FRYER like 'friar' (monk), LLAMA like 'lama' (Tibetan spiritual leader), and NONE like 'nun' (religious sister). None of the words on the board are spelled like the religious titles, making this a classic homophone group.

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
STRIKEOUT
A baseball term for when a batter receives three strikes and is called out; also means a failure or rejection in other contexts.
SINGLE
In baseball, a hit that allows the batter to reach first base safely; can also mean unmarried or consisting of one part.
JOG
To run slowly and steadily; metaphorically, to stimulate someone's memory, as in the phrase 'jog your memory.'
LLAMA
A domesticated pack animal from the Andes, whose name is a homophone for a Tibetan Buddhist spiritual teacher or monk.
CANTER
A smooth, three-beat gait of a horse; when spoken, it sounds identical to a religious singer in a Jewish synagogue.
WALK
To move at a regular pace by foot; in baseball, a free pass to first base awarded when the pitcher throws four balls.
DRONE
A low humming sound, a male honeybee, or an unmanned aircraft; it can also mean to speak in a boring, monotone voice.
SPARK
To ignite or produce a small fire; figuratively, to cause something to begin, like a memory or an idea.
HOME RUN
In baseball, a hit that allows the batter to circle all four bases and score a run, often by hitting the ball over the outfield fence.
NONE
Not any; zero. Pronounced exactly like a woman who takes religious vows and lives in a convent, like a Catholic nun.
REFRESH
To give new energy or life to something; in computing, to update data, and in memory, to bring something back to mind.
RAMBLE
To walk for pleasure in the countryside, but more commonly means to talk in a confused or lengthy way without a clear point.
YAK
A large long-haired ox native to Tibet; as a verb, it means to chatter or talk persistently about trivial things.
FRYER
A deep pan or appliance used for frying food; its pronunciation matches a brother in a religious order like a Franciscan.
BABBLE
To talk quickly and continuously in a foolish or excited way; also refers to the gentle sound of a flowing stream.
PROMPT
To cause someone to take action or remember something; also a cue given to an actor who has forgotten their lines.

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

Wyna Liu constructs a clever trap by front-loading the board with animal-related terms (YAK, LLAMA, CANTER, DRONE) that tempt solvers into a false 'creatures' group. The homophone category is classic misdirection: everyday words like FRYER and NONE hide sacred roles, forcing lateral thinking. The baseball group makes perfect sense once seen, but the memory-trigger group adds a nice intermediate difficulty. The talk-at-length category anchors the puzzle with accessible synonyms, but YAK’s double meaning keeps it from being a gimme.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
6.2/10
Most deceptive
YAK

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
Religious Homophones

requires lateral thinking

Connections Strategy Guides

Get better at the game

More NYT Connections Puzzles