NYT Connections puzzle #1140 for July 25, 2026 was easier than some recent boards, but it still contained several convincing traps involving foreign-language family terms, African currencies and words with multiple meanings.
The biggest distraction is CLUB, which appears to fit naturally with POKER through gaming or entertainment. However, both words belong to a broader phrase-based group in today’s puzzle.
NYT Connections hints for July 25
- Yellow: Words for family members in Spanish.
- Green: Words that can describe someone beginning to cry when followed by the same short word.
- Blue: Units of money used in four African countries.
- Purple: Add the same word before a venue, shopping development, card game and cut of beef.
Main trap: CLUB and POKER may appear to form the start of a gaming or nightlife category. However, both belong with MALL and STEAK because the same word can be placed before all four.
Moisture trap: MIST, TEAR and WELL may suggest a water-related group. The intended connection becomes clear when CHOKE is included and the same short word is added after every answer.
Stronger clue: One group requires Spanish vocabulary, while another depends on completing four familiar phrases from unrelated subjects.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Spanish relatives
Answers: ABUELA, HIJO, MADRE, PRIMO
These Spanish words mean grandmother, son, mother and cousin. ABUELA is the strongest solving anchor because its family meaning is widely recognizable.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Start to cry, with “up”
Answers: CHOKE, MIST, TEAR, WELL
Each word can be followed by “up” to describe someone becoming emotional or beginning to cry: choke up, mist up, tear up and well up.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: African currencies
Answers: KWANZA, LEONE, NAIRA, RAND
These are currencies used in Angola, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and South Africa. RAND is the clearest financial anchor, while LEONE can initially look like a personal name.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: Strip ____
Answers: CLUB, MALL, POKER, STEAK
Each answer completes a familiar phrase: strip club, strip mall, strip poker and strip steak.
Why Connections #1140 was challenging: Several words created convincing false associations. CLUB and POKER suggested games or entertainment, while MIST, TEAR and WELL appeared to form a group based on moisture.
The purple category was especially deceptive because CLUB, MALL, POKER and STEAK come from four different subjects. Their connection only becomes visible after placing the same word before each answer.
Today’s solving lesson: When several words appear loosely related but no complete category emerges, test whether a shared word can be placed before or after them. Connections frequently hides groups inside familiar compound phrases.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and review their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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