Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for July 29, 2026, is puzzle No. 1144. The challenge is to sort 16 words into four groups of four, but several pale or light-colored answers create a convincing red herring.
The biggest distractions are WHITE, PLAIN, VANILLA, CHALK and PEARL. They may appear to form a pale or light-colored group, but the words belong across three different categories.
NYT Connections hints for July 29
- Yellow: Objects used to attach or hold materials together.
- Green: Words describing something ordinary, unremarkable or lacking distinction.
- Blue: Small but valuable pieces of knowledge or advice.
- Purple: Each word can appear before “board” in a classroom setting.
Main trap: WHITE, PLAIN, VANILLA, CHALK and PEARL may look connected through pale colors. However, that apparent relationship is a red herring spread across the green, blue and purple groups.
Fastener clue: NAIL, RIVET and SCREW are clearly used to join materials. The fourth answer can also refer to an everyday office supply.
Description clue: BASIC, PLAIN and VANILLA can all describe something ordinary or unexceptional. The fourth answer is an informal term for something mediocre.
Wisdom clue: Think about a gem, nugget or pearl of wisdom. The remaining answer forms another familiar phrase ending with “of wisdom.”
Classroom clue: Add the same word after BLACK, CHALK, CORK and WHITE to create four familiar objects used to write, display information or post notices.
Today’s NYT Connections answers
Reveal the Yellow Group
Category: Fasteners
Answers: NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE
Each answer names an item used to attach, secure or hold materials together. STAPLE may be the main distraction because the word can also describe an essential or commonly used product.
Reveal the Green Group
Category: Nondescript
Answers: BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA
All four words can describe something ordinary, unremarkable or lacking distinctive qualities. MID is the most informal answer and is commonly used to describe something mediocre or unimpressive.
Reveal the Blue Group
Category: Units of wisdom
Answers: GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD
Each word can refer to a small piece of valuable knowledge or advice. Familiar expressions include a gem, nugget or pearl of wisdom, as well as a word of wisdom.
Reveal the Purple Group
Category: ____boards in a classroom
Answers: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE
Adding BOARD creates four classroom-related terms: blackboard, chalkboard, corkboard and whiteboard. The colors BLACK and WHITE help disguise the shared-word connection.
Today’s solving lesson: Be cautious when five or more words appear connected by a broad theme such as color. A valid Connections category must contain exactly four answers linked by the same precise relationship. Testing common prefixes, suffixes and compound words can help uncover the final group.
Players can attempt the official daily puzzle and review their results on the New York Times Connections page.
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