Play Connections #1136
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1136 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Think of casual warm-weather garments that cover your upper body.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Digital extras you grab to make your computer or phone more capable.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are the building blocks that make up a Broadway show with songs.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Add a prefix meaning far away to each one to make a new word.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
TUBE and TANK sound like old nicknames for a TV or a container, while PROMPTER and MUSIC feel theatrical, so they tempt you toward the wrong groups.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- KINDS OF TOPS
- SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS
- ELEMENTS OF A MUSICAL
- TELE___
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Difficulty: Medium. Each category is clear once you spot it, but several words have double meanings that can lead you astray early on.
Connections #1136 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for July 21, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
CROP is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF TOPS.
Show all four words
CROP, HALTER, TANK, TUBE
Show one word
APP is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS.
Show all four words
APP, DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN
Show one word
BOOK is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ELEMENTS OF A MUSICAL.
Show all four words
BOOK, LYRICS, MUSIC, ORCHESTRATION
Show one word
GRAM is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is TELE___.
Show all four words
GRAM, KINESIS, PROMPTER, VISION
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CROP: Short shirt ending above the waist
- HALTER: Top fastened around the neck, leaving the back bare
- TANK: Sleeveless shirt with wide shoulder straps
- TUBE: Stretchy strapless top worn around the chest
- APP: Program you download onto a phone or tablet
- DRIVER: Software that lets hardware talk to your computer
- EXTENSION: Browser add-on that adds features
- PLUGIN: Add-on that expands a program's abilities
- BOOK: The script and dialogue of a show
- LYRICS: The words to the songs
- MUSIC: The composed score and melodies
- ORCHESTRATION: How the score is arranged for instruments
Purple group explained
- GRAM: Telegram is a message sent by wire
- KINESIS: Telekinesis is moving objects with the mind
- PROMPTER: Teleprompter displays a speaker's script on screen
- VISION: Television shows moving pictures from afar
What does KINESIS mean?
Movement of an organism or cell in response to a stimulus, without a fixed direction. In 'telekinesis', it refers to moving objects by mental power alone, which is why it fits the TELE___ group.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 20 | #1135 | STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES |
| Jul 19 | #1134 | ___ FACE EXPRESSIONS |
| Jul 18 | #1133 | WORDS AFTER "POP" |
| Jul 17 | #1132 | ENDING IN PARTS OF A CAR |
| Jul 16 | #1131 | STARTING WITH TINY MARKS |
| Jul 15 | #1130 | WORDS BEFORE "ROOM" TO INDICATE EXTRA SPACE |
| Jul 14 | #1129 | SYMBOLIZED WITH ARROWS |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Jul 21
Connections #1136 questions
What were the Connections answers on July 21, 2026?
KINDS OF TOPS: CROP, HALTER, TANK, TUBE. SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS: APP, DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN. ELEMENTS OF A MUSICAL: BOOK, LYRICS, MUSIC, ORCHESTRATION. TELE___: GRAM, KINESIS, PROMPTER, VISION.
What was the purple group in Connections #1136?
TELE___: GRAM, KINESIS, PROMPTER, VISION.
What made Connections #1136 tricky?
TUBE and TANK sound like old nicknames for a TV or a container, while PROMPTER and MUSIC feel theatrical, so they tempt you toward the wrong groups.