Looking for today’s NYT Connections hints and answers without immediately spoiling the puzzle? You’re in the right place. This guide provides gradual clues that help you solve Connections Puzzle #1117 on your own before revealing the complete answers later in the article.
Today’s game is one of those satisfying puzzles that doesn’t reveal its secrets right away. At first glance, the 16 words appear completely unrelated. There are references to animals, everyday objects, food, entertainment, sports, and even a famous science-fiction character. That variety makes it difficult to know where to begin—but that’s exactly what makes Connections so enjoyable.
Rather than rushing to the answers, try using the hints below to uncover each group step by step. You may be surprised how quickly hidden relationships start to appear once you identify your first category.
Whether you’re protecting a long winning streak or simply enjoy solving daily word puzzles, this guide will walk you through today’s challenge with spoiler-free clues before revealing the full solution.
Puzzle Overview
- Game: NYT Connections
- Date: Thursday, July 2, 2026
- Puzzle Number: #1117
- Difficulty: Medium
- Recommended Strategy: Look for unusual phrases before grouping similar words.
Today’s puzzle relies heavily on creative wordplay. Several words appear to belong together at first but actually serve as clever distractions. The hardest category requires looking only at the beginning of each phrase rather than its full meaning.
How to Play NYT Connections
If you’re new to the game, here’s a quick refresher.
Connections is a free daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Every puzzle presents a grid of 16 words or phrases, and your objective is to organize them into four groups of four based on a shared connection.
Those connections can include:
- Synonyms
- Common themes
- Pop culture references
- Objects with similar functions
- Wordplay
- Prefixes or suffixes
- Hidden meanings
- Rhymes
- Famous names
Only one solution is correct.
Players may make up to four incorrect guesses before the game ends, so choosing carefully is important.
Understanding the Color Groups
Each solved category is assigned a color representing its relative difficulty.
🟨 Yellow
Usually the most straightforward category.
🟩 Green
Slightly more challenging and often based on shared meanings.
🟦 Blue
Frequently includes pop culture, history, entertainment, or specialized knowledge.
🟪 Purple
Almost always involves clever wordplay, hidden patterns, homophones, or unusual connections.
Learning how these colors generally behave can make future puzzles easier to solve.
Today’s Word List (Puzzle #1117)
Study today’s sixteen words before reading the hints.
- MOCKINGBIRD
- FIELD MOUSE
- TOM-TOM
- COURT JESTER
- MIME
- LOOKING GLASS
- TRACK RECORD
- BILLY GOAT
- DIAMOND RING
- SPECTACLES
- DAN DAN NOODLES
- COPYCAT
- TALKIE (some players reported seeing GRAMOPHONE instead)
- RICH TEXT
- T-1000
- WATER CLOSET
Take your time before scrolling.
Several of these entries seem completely unrelated, but there are hidden links waiting to be discovered.
First Impressions
Today’s board contains several intentional distractions.
For example:
- Mockingbird, Copycat, and Mime all seem connected because they involve imitation.
- Court, Track, and Diamond might make you think of sports.
- Looking Glass, Spectacles, and Talkie sound old-fashioned.
- Billy, Tom, Dan, and Rich could simply be people’s names—or could they?
These overlapping possibilities make Puzzle #1117 particularly enjoyable because every correct discovery eliminates several misleading combinations.
Spoiler-Free Hints
If you’d like to solve today’s Connections puzzle yourself, these clues should point you in the right direction without giving everything away.
🟨 Yellow Hint
Think about things—or characters—that imitate something else.
This category is based on copying, mimicking, or taking another form.
🟩 Green Hint
These are older names for items that still exist today.
Some sound old-fashioned, but their modern versions remain common.
🟦 Blue Hint
Pay attention to the first word in each phrase.
Those first words share something unexpected.
🟪 Purple Hint
Again, the beginning of each phrase matters more than the complete phrase.
Think about places where different sports are played.
One Word from Each Group
Need just a little more help?
Here is one confirmed answer from each category without revealing the complete solution.
- 🟨 MOCKINGBIRD
- 🟩 SPECTACLES
- 🟦 RICH TEXT
- 🟪 FIELD MOUSE
These should provide enough direction to help many players finish the puzzle on their own.
🟨 Yellow Group Hint – They Imitate Something Else
The Yellow group is generally the easiest category in Connections, and today’s puzzle follows that tradition.
Think about words associated with copying, mimicking, or impersonating. Some are animals, others are people or fictional characters, but they all share one common behavior—they imitate something or someone else.
Extra Hint
If something can copy another person’s appearance, actions, or voice, it probably belongs here.
One Confirmed Yellow Answer
✅ MOCKINGBIRD
Mockingbirds are famous for copying the songs of other birds, making this an excellent clue for the entire category.
🟩 Green Group Hint – Familiar Things with Older Names
The Green category shifts away from behavior and focuses on language.
Many everyday objects had different names decades ago. Some of those older names are still recognized today, even if they aren’t used very often.
Extra Hint
Imagine stepping back 100 years. What would people have called certain household items or forms of entertainment?
One Confirmed Green Answer
✅ SPECTACLES
Although most people simply say “glasses” today, “spectacles” remains a recognizable older term.
🟦 Blue Group Hint – Focus on the First Word
The Blue category introduces one of today’s clever twists.
Instead of looking at the complete phrase, examine only the first word.
Several entries begin with words that are also commonly used as nicknames.
This is easy to overlook because your brain naturally reads the entire phrase rather than separating its parts.
Extra Hint
Think about shortened versions of common first names.
One Confirmed Blue Answer
✅ RICH TEXT
The important word isn’t Text—it’s Rich.
🟪 Purple Group Hint – Sports Come First
Purple is usually the hardest group in every Connections puzzle, and today’s challenge is no exception.
Once again, ignore the complete phrase.
Instead, focus only on the opening word.
Those first words all represent places where sports are played.
Extra Hint
Basketball, baseball, athletics, and horse racing all provide useful clues.
One Confirmed Purple Answer
✅ FIELD MOUSE
The connection comes from Field, not Mouse.
Stronger Clues Before the Categories
Still undecided? Here are one-step-closer hints without revealing the complete answers.
🟨 Yellow
Things that imitate or pretend to be something else.
🟩 Green
Traditional names for modern objects.
🟦 Blue
Each phrase begins with a common nickname.
🟪 Purple
Each phrase starts with the name of a sports venue or playing area.
Official NYT Connections Categories
If you’re almost finished solving the puzzle, these official category titles should help you complete the final groups.
🟨 Yellow Group
They Impersonate Other Things
🟩 Green Group
Old-Timey Names for Things We Still Use
🟦 Blue Group
Starting With Nicknames
🟪 Purple Group
Starting With Sports Venues
Puzzle Strategy Breakdown
Today’s puzzle is an excellent example of how Connections encourages flexible thinking rather than straightforward matching.
Many players will initially notice words like Court, Track, Diamond, and Field and immediately assume they’re related to sports. While that’s partly true, the actual trick is that these words only appear at the beginning of longer phrases.
Likewise, Billy Goat, Tom-Tom, Dan Dan Noodles, and Rich Text don’t seem connected until you realize Billy, Tom, Dan, and Rich are all common nicknames.
The Green category also requires players to think historically. Instead of focusing on modern vocabulary, it rewards those who recognize older terms that have largely been replaced in everyday speech.
Meanwhile, the Yellow group stands out as the most approachable. Once you identify two or three examples of imitation, the remaining answer becomes much easier to spot.
After working through the hints and category clues, it’s time to reveal the official solutions for today’s puzzle. This edition featured a great mix of language, pop culture, hidden nicknames, and creative wordplay, making it one of the more entertaining Connections puzzles of the week.
Let’s break down each color group.
🟨 Yellow Group – They Impersonate Other Things
Category
They Impersonate Other Things
Correct Answers
- COPYCAT
- MIME
- MOCKINGBIRD
- T-1000
Why These Words Belong Together
The Yellow category revolves around imitation.
- Copycat describes someone who copies another person’s behavior.
- Mime performers imitate actions and emotions without speaking.
- Mockingbirds are famous for mimicking the songs of other birds.
- T-1000, the liquid-metal villain from Terminator 2: Judgment Day, can perfectly imitate other people by changing its appearance.
Although these words come from completely different contexts, they all share the idea of copying or impersonation.
🟩 Green Group – Old-Timey Names for Things We Still Use
Category
Old-Timey Names for Things We Still Use
Correct Answers
- LOOKING GLASS
- SPECTACLES
- TALKIE (or GRAMOPHONE in some versions of the puzzle)
- WATER CLOSET
Why These Words Belong Together
This category highlights older names that many people still recognize today.
- Looking Glass is an old-fashioned name for a mirror.
- Spectacles refers to eyeglasses.
- Talkie was the early name for motion pictures with synchronized sound.
- Water Closet is the traditional term for a toilet.
These expressions may sound dated, but they remain part of the English language and occasionally appear in books, films, or historical writing.
Note: Some players reported receiving GRAMOPHONE instead of TALKIE. Both versions follow the same overall theme of older terminology.
🟦 Blue Group – Starting With Nicknames
Category
Starting With Nicknames
Correct Answers
- BILLY GOAT
- DAN DAN NOODLES
- RICH TEXT
- TOM-TOM
Why These Words Belong Together
This group isn’t about the complete phrases—it focuses only on their opening words.
Each answer begins with a familiar nickname:
- Billy
- Dan
- Rich
- Tom
It’s a clever example of how Connections encourages players to think beyond the obvious meaning of each phrase.
🟪 Purple Group – Starting With Sports Venues
Category
Starting With Sports Venues
Correct Answers
- COURT JESTER
- DIAMOND RING
- FIELD MOUSE
- TRACK RECORD
Why These Words Belong Together
Purple delivers another classic Connections twist.
Each phrase begins with the name of a sports playing area:
- Court
- Diamond
- Field
- Track
Instead of focusing on jesters, jewelry, mice, or records, players needed to notice the sports venue hidden at the beginning of every phrase.
This subtle wordplay is exactly why Purple categories often prove to be the hardest.
Complete Answer Grid
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | They Impersonate Other Things | COPYCAT, MIME, MOCKINGBIRD, T-1000 |
| 🟩 Green | Old-Timey Names for Things We Still Use | LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET |
| 🟦 Blue | Starting With Nicknames | BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM |
| 🟪 Purple | Starting With Sports Venues | COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD |
Puzzle Analysis
Puzzle #1117 does an excellent job of hiding its connections behind unrelated-looking phrases.
At first glance, the board appears almost impossible to organize. There are references to animals, technology, food, sports, historical terms, and science fiction. That diversity makes it difficult to identify any obvious starting point.
The Yellow group is the easiest because the concept of imitation quickly links several entries together. Once COPYCAT, MIME, and MOCKINGBIRD are identified, T-1000 becomes the natural fourth answer.
Green requires a broader vocabulary. Players familiar with historical or traditional English expressions likely solved it faster than those who mainly use modern terms.
Blue and Purple both rely on spotting patterns at the beginning of each phrase rather than interpreting the entire expression. These categories reward careful reading and a willingness to look beyond the literal meaning.
Difficulty Rating
Overall Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Here’s how each category compares:
| Group | Difficulty |
|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | Easy |
| 🟩 Green | Medium |
| 🟦 Blue | Hard |
| 🟪 Purple | Hard |
The Blue and Purple categories are where many players were likely to spend most of their time.
Tips for Future Connections Puzzles
If today’s challenge gave you trouble, keep these strategies in mind:
- Don’t group words too quickly. Some obvious connections are intentional red herrings.
- Read every phrase carefully. Sometimes only the first or last word matters.
- Think about multiple meanings. A word can represent an object, a place, a nickname, or something entirely different.
- Use elimination. Solving one category often makes the remaining groups much easier.
- Watch for Purple wordplay. Prefixes, suffixes, homophones, nicknames, and hidden words appear regularly in the toughest category.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is today’s NYT Connections puzzle number?
Today’s puzzle is #1117, released on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
What was the hardest category today?
Most players found the Purple group the most challenging because it required recognizing sports venue names hidden at the beginning of longer phrases.
Why did some players have “GRAMOPHONE” instead of “TALKIE”?
The New York Times occasionally tests alternate puzzle versions. Both words fit the Green category of old-timey names for things we still use, so either version leads to the same style of solution.
Where can I find daily NYT Connections hints?
Visit our gaming website every day for fresh NYT Connections hints, category clues, complete answers, detailed explanations, and puzzle-solving tips to help you maintain your winning streak.
Final Thoughts
NYT Connections Puzzle #1117 is a fantastic example of why this daily word game has become so popular. Instead of relying on simple vocabulary, it challenges players to recognize patterns, think creatively, and approach familiar words from unexpected angles.
The Yellow category offers a comfortable starting point, while Green introduces a nostalgic twist with older vocabulary. Blue and Purple then raise the difficulty by hiding the real connections inside the opening words of each phrase.
If you managed to solve every group without using the full answers, congratulations! If not, don’t worry—every puzzle helps sharpen your pattern-recognition skills for the next day’s challenge.
Be sure to return tomorrow for another complete NYT Connections hints and answers guide featuring spoiler-free clues, detailed explanations, and the official solutions.
