Connections Hint
Puzzle #1143 · July 28, 2026

NYT Connections Hints for July 28, 2026

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

Tuesday, July 28, 2026
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Today’s 16 Puzzle Words
Tap any word to see how it’s used in this puzzle
EVERESTCLARKSCROCSHONEYCRISPHEADCAPTAINBOBSLEDCAMPERFUJILEADEMPIREGALAANNAPOLISDIRECTOTTOMANCONVERSE

Spoiler-Free Hints

Three levels — warmer as you read down
i Ultra safe

A direction for each group — no names given.

  • These words all convey a sense of authority and guidance.
  • These all refer to a certain orchard fruit, a lunchbox classic.
  • These foot-related names all begin with an identical first letter.
  • These longer words hide a special pattern right at the beginning.
ii Warmer

What kind of thinking each group asks for.

  • Think of words that mean to guide, pilot, or be at the forefront of a group.
  • You might find these names at a farmer's market or grocery store, in the produce section.
  • These all are companies making something you wear on your feet, each starting with the same consonant.
  • The trick lies at the very start of these words, where a tiny mirror-image name lives.
iii Mild spoilers

Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.

  • All four are verbs that mean to take charge of something, like a ship or a team.
  • All four types of a certain fruit that grow in orchards and are a staple of autumn.
  • Each is a shoe company whose name begins with the same consonant, the one that comes after B.
  • Peel away the end and you'll find each starts with a palindrome — a name that reads the same backwards.

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.

EMPIRE

Seems like a word for rule and authority, but it's actually a type of apple.

FUJI

Often associated with a mountain or camera, but this one is a juicy, orchard-grown treat.

GALA

Easily mistaken for a ball or party, this term is a specific apple variety.

BOBSLED

Evokes winter sports, but it's part of a wordplay group with a hidden palindrome at the start.

Connections Answers — July 28, 2026

Tap any group to reveal it
Answers are hidden — tap a group to peek, or reveal all at once.
COMMAND
CAPTAIN · DIRECT · HEAD · LEAD
Tap to reveal
HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
EMPIRE · FUJI · GALA · HONEYCRISP
Tap to reveal
SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
CLARKS · CAMPER · CONVERSE · CROCS
Tap to reveal
STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
OTTOMAN · ANNAPOLIS · BOBSLED · EVEREST
Tap to reveal
SEE ALSO:
NYT Wordle hints for July 28, 2026 NYT Pips hints for July 28, 2026 NYT Strands hints for July 28, 2026

Category Breakdown — Puzzle #1143

Why each group works — not just what it is

COMMAND

CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, and LEAD are all synonyms for being in charge. The straightforward nature of this group contrasts with the nearby trap word EMPIRE, which could easily mislead solvers.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES

EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, and HONEYCRISP are well-known apple varieties. The playful phrase 'how do you like them apples' ties them together with a wink.

SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"

CAMPER, CLARKS, CONVERSE, and CROCS are all popular shoe brands that share the first letter C. The alliterative pattern makes them a tidy set once you spot it.

STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES

ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST, and OTTOMAN each begin with a palindromic name: Anna, Bob, Eve, and Otto. Spotting the symmetrical names at the front of these longer words delivers a clever 'aha' moment.

Word Guide — All 16 Puzzle Words

What each word means in this puzzle
EVEREST
The highest mountain on Earth, located in the Himalayas; starts with the palindromic name Eve.
CLARKS
A British shoe brand famous for its classic desert boots and comfortable everyday designs.
CROCS
A brand of lightweight foam clogs that became a global craze for their comfort and ease.
HONEYCRISP
A modern apple cultivar celebrated for its explosive crunch and honey-sweet juice.
HEAD
To be in charge or at the front of a group; also the top part of the body.
CAPTAIN
A person who leads a team, ship, or sports side; a title for someone in command.
BOBSLED
A winter sport using a fast sled on an ice track; begins with the name Bob, which is a palindrome.
CAMPER
A Spanish casual footwear brand; also refers to a person who stays in a tent.
FUJI
Japan’s tallest mountain and also a type of apple prized for its sweetness and dense flesh.
LEAD
To guide a group; can also refer to a soft, heavy metal used in batteries.
EMPIRE
A vast domain ruled by an emperor, and a popular apple variety known for its sweet-tart balance.
GALA
A festive social gathering, and a widely grown apple with thin skin and mild sweetness.
ANNAPOLIS
The capital of Maryland and home to the U.S. Naval Academy; its first four letters read the same forward and backward.
DIRECT
To manage, steer, or give orders; also used in film for guiding actors.
OTTOMAN
A cushioned seat without a back, and a historical empire; the first four letters form the palindrome Otto.
CONVERSE
A legendary American sneaker brand behind the Chuck Taylor; also a verb meaning to talk.

Puzzle Design Analysis

Why the editor constructed it this way

Wyna Liu crafted this puzzle to toy with expectations: EMPIRE and GALA masquerade as authority or events but snap into the apple category once you taste the theme. The 'shoe brands' group adds a pop-culture layer, while the purple category hides palindromic names in plain sight. The interplay between a straightforward command group and the tricky fruit decoys shows keen cognitive misdirection.

Difficulty & Analysis

How tough today’s board really plays
Overall
5.7/10
Most deceptive
EMPIRE

a textbook decoy

Hardest group
Hidden Palindromes

requires lateral thinking

Connections Strategy Guides

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