Struggling to make sense of today’s grid? You aren’t alone. The NYT Connections hints for July 19 throw a few fascinating curveballs, mixing nostalgic pop culture with everyday utility items. If you are down to your last life or just want to keep your streak alive, you’ve come to the right place.
Today’s puzzle (Game #769) features a clever mix of overlapping synonyms especially related to sharp objects and names that can easily lead you into a “One Away” trap.
Below, we’ll provide graduated hints, from gentle nudges to category reveals, and finally, the complete answer key.
Table of Contents
How to Play NYT Connections?
If you are new to the game (or just need a refresher after a tough loss), the rules are simple but deceptive:
- The Goal: Sort 16 words into four groups of four.
- The Categories: Each group shares a specific theme.
- The Difficulty:
- Yellow: Straightforward (easiest).
- Green: Moderate difficulty.
- Blue: Harder / abstract.
- Purple: Tricky / wordplay (hardest).
- Mistakes: You only get four mistakes before the game ends.
Spoiler-Free Hints for July 19 (#769)
Before we reveal the groups, let’s look at the board broadly. Today’s puzzle has a few words that look like names and several words that imply “sharpness.” Be careful not to group everything sharp together!
1. General Hints for Today’s Board
- Red Herring Alert: You might see BRAD, LEO, DON, and MIC. Are these all people? Or is there a different connection for some of them?
- Overlap Trap: There are at least five words that could be described as “pointy” or “sharp.” You need to separate the fasteners from the actions.
- The Vibe: We have a mix of sports, office supplies, utilities, and a 1980s cartoon throwback.
2. “One Away” Nudges
- Yellow Group: Think about basic survival. Where do you get your hydration?
- Green Group: Think about American football. What are the specific moves a player makes?
- Blue Group: Focus on DIY projects or a corkboard.
- Purple Group: Cowabunga! Break these words down to their first three letters.
Category Hints for July 19:
Still stuck? Here are the themes for each color-coded group without revealing the specific words just yet.
- Yellow Group: Sources of Hydration
- Green Group: Gridiron Actions
- Blue Group: Pointy Fasteners
- Purple Group: Heroes in a Half Shell (Shortened)
Pro Tip: The Purple category today relies on cultural knowledge rather than definitions. If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, this one might actually be easier than the Blue group!
NYT Connections Answers July 19 (Spoiler Alert)
If you are ready for the solution, scroll down. Here are the full groups and answers for the NYT Connections hints July 19.
Yellow: Sources of Drinking Water
Simple, everyday sources.
- RAIN
- SPRING
- TAP
- WELL
Green: Things You Can Do With a Football
Verbs related to American football gameplay.
- PASS
- PUNT
- SNAP
- SPIKE
Blue: Sharp Fasteners
Small items used to hold things in place.
- BRAD
- NAIL
- PIN
- TACK
Purple: Starts of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The first syllable of the four famous turtles.
- DON (Donatello)
- LEO (Leonardo)
- MIC (Michelangelo)
- RAP (Raphael)
July 19 Connections Analysis: Tricky Words & definitions
Today’s puzzle #769 was a masterclass in semantic overlap. Here is why it was difficult:
The “Sharp” Trap
The board contained SPIKE, BRAD, NAIL, PIN, and TACK.
- SPIKE is sharp, but in this puzzle, it belongs to the Football (Green) category (slamming the ball down).
- BRAD is a type of thin nail used in woodworking, but it looks like a human name (red herring for the Purple group).
- TACK and PIN are standard fasteners.
The “Name” Trap
The Purple category (TMNT) was disguised as random short words.
- MIC looks like “Microphone.”
- RAP looks like a music genre.
- DON and LEO look like standard names.
- Connecting them required realizing they are the nicknames of the Ninja Turtles. If you missed the “Mic” reference, you likely struggled to group it with the others.
Tips to Improve Your Connections Strategy:
Want to master tomorrow’s puzzle? Keep these strategies in mind:
- Shuffle Often: The NYT intentionally places misleading words (like BRAD next to LEO) to trick your brain. Shuffling breaks these false associations.
- Identify the “Solos”: Words like PUNT rarely have multiple meanings outside of sports or boating. Locking in the Green category first clears the board for the trickier abstract groups.
- Check for “Fill-in-the-Blank”: The Purple category is often a “Word that comes before/after ____” style. Always test this if you have four unrelated words left.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What was the hardest category in the July 19 Connections?
The Purple category (“Starts of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) was the hardest. It required recognizing that MIC, RAP, DON, and LEO were not just random syllables or names, but specific references to the iconic cartoon characters.
Why is “Brad” in the Blue category?
A “Brad” is a specific type of thin wire nail with a small head, often used in cabinetry or molding. It fits the “Sharp Fasteners” category alongside Nail, Pin, and Tack.
What time does the new NYT Connections reset?
The New York Times Connections puzzle resets daily at midnight local time (based on your device’s clock).
Is there an archive of past Connections puzzles?
Currently, the NYT Games app does not offer an official archive for Connections, unlike the Crossword. However, third-party sites track the history of puzzles like today’s #769.
