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Verified archive for July 3, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1118

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for July 3, 2026

The July 3, 2026 Connections board mixes emotions, dated praise, unpleasant treatment, and a final set united by the sound of a single letter.

Guide editorNora BennettSenior Editor

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Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

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Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

Connections #1118 overview

The board moves from semantic grouping to phrase logic and finishes with a homophone-style category. The cleanest trap is the overlap between feeling good and voicing approval.

Overall difficultyMedium, with a phrase-heavy board and a pronunciation-based final groupBiggest trapSeveral entries describe social reactions or emotional experiences, making feeling-related associations look broader than they are.Best first moveStart with the unmistakably old-fashioned endorsements COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, and RIGHT ON.

Why the board is deceptive

Most of the board consists of phrases, so grammatical patterns provide especially useful early signals.

The central challenge is separating positive feelings from expressions that communicate approval.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Clear the four retro endorsements first, then collect the unpleasant things one person can give another. The positive feelings follow, leaving four descriptions of things pronounced like the letter T.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Ways to describe feeling goodReveal this group

What connects BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS and WARM FUZZIES?

BLISS · FELICITY · HAPPINESS · WARM FUZZIES

POSITIVE FEELINGS. BLISS, FELICITY, HAPPINESS, and WARM FUZZIES all name or evoke pleasant emotional states.

Best anchor: pleasant emotional states

Old-school ways to say something is greatReveal this group

What connects COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY and RIGHT ON?

COOL BEANS · FAR OUT · GROOVY · RIGHT ON

RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL. COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, and RIGHT ON are dated or retro-sounding ways to express approval.

Best anchor: old-fashioned approving reactions

Unwelcome treatment one person can deliverReveal this group

What connects COLD SHOULDER, DIRTY LOOK, HARD TIME and RUNAROUND?

COLD SHOULDER · DIRTY LOOK · HARD TIME · RUNAROUND

BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE. You can give someone the COLD SHOULDER, a DIRTY LOOK, a HARD TIME, or the RUNAROUND.

Best anchor: unpleasant things people can give

Possible meanings of the sound “tee”Reveal this group

What connects GOLF ACCESSORY, GOSSIP, HOT DRINK and SHIRT?

GOLF ACCESSORY · GOSSIP · HOT DRINK · SHIRT

WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO. A tee is a GOLF ACCESSORY, tea is a HOT DRINK or GOSSIP, and a tee can also mean a T-SHIRT.

Best anchor: meanings associated with the sound tee

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    POSITIVE FEELINGS

    pleasant emotional states

  2. 2
    RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL

    old-fashioned approving reactions

  3. 3
    BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE

    unpleasant things people can give

  4. 4
    WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO

    meanings associated with the sound tee

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start with the unmistakably old-fashioned endorsements COOL BEANS, FAR OUT, GROOVY, and RIGHT ON..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Easy groupWays to describe feeling good
POSITIVE FEELINGS: pleasant emotional states
Easy to medium groupOld-school ways to say something is great
RETRO EXPRESSIONS OF APPROVAL: old-fashioned approving reactions
Medium groupUnwelcome treatment one person can deliver
BAD THINGS TO GIVE SOMEONE: unpleasant things people can give
Hard groupPossible meanings of the sound “tee”
WHAT THINGS PRONOUNCED "T" MIGHT REFER TO: meanings associated with the sound tee

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Nora Bennett

An editor focused on spoiler-conscious daily puzzle guides and plain-English solving explanations.

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