Play Connections #1142
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 #1142 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
Athletes in a famous Olympic sport swing, flip, or leap on and over these.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each of these narrows steadily until it ends in a point.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Put the right word in front of 'shift' and each one names a kind of change.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
These are tiny pictures you tap while browsing an online store.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words, like STICK, VAULT and BELL, have strong secondary meanings that pull toward other groups, including pointed objects, burial places, and things that ring or hang.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- GYMNASTICS APPARATUS
- LONG TAPERED THINGS
- KINDS OF SHIFTS
- ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE
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Difficulty: Medium. Two groups are easy to spot, but the 'shift' connection and the website symbols require some flexible thinking.
Connections #1142 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for July 27, 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
BEAM is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is GYMNASTICS APPARATUS.
Show all four words
BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT
Show one word
CARROT is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is LONG TAPERED THINGS.
Show all four words
CARROT, ICICLE, KNITTING NEEDLE, STALACTITE
Show one word
DOPPLER is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is KINDS OF SHIFTS.
Show all four words
DOPPLER, GRAVEYARD, PARADIGM, STICK
Show one word
BELL is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE.
Show all four words
BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- BEAM: Narrow balance platform used in women's gymnastics.
- HORSE: Pommel horse is a men's event with a padded body.
- RINGS: Men swing and hold strength poses on suspended rings.
- VAULT: Gymnasts sprint and spring off a table-like platform.
- CARROT: A root vegetable that narrows to a point.
- ICICLE: Frozen water dripping down to a sharp tip.
- KNITTING NEEDLE: A slim rod with a pointed end for yarn.
- STALACTITE: A cave formation hanging down and narrowing to a point.
- DOPPLER: A Doppler shift changes a wave's frequency as its source moves.
- GRAVEYARD: A graveyard shift is the overnight work period.
- PARADIGM: A paradigm shift is a big change in thinking.
- STICK: A stick shift is a manual car transmission.
Purple group explained
- BELL: A notification icon on a page.
- CART: The basket icon holding items you plan to buy.
- HEART: The icon for saving a favorite item.
- MAGNIFYING GLASS: The standard search icon.
What does STALACTITE mean?
A pointed mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, built up slowly as dripping water leaves behind deposits. Often confused with stalagmite, which rises from the floor. It fits the long tapered things group.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 26 | #1141 | WHAT "SHELL" MIGHT REFER TO |
| Jul 25 | #1140 | STRIP ___ |
| Jul 24 | #1139 | HOMOPHONES OF RELIGIOUS ROLES |
| Jul 23 | #1138 | ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS |
| Jul 22 | #1137 | FEATURES OF A ZEBRA |
| Jul 21 | #1136 | TELE___ |
| Jul 20 | #1135 | STARTING WITH ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES |
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 27
Connections #1142 questions
What were the Connections answers on July 27, 2026?
GYMNASTICS APPARATUS: BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT. LONG TAPERED THINGS: CARROT, ICICLE, KNITTING NEEDLE, STALACTITE. KINDS OF SHIFTS: DOPPLER, GRAVEYARD, PARADIGM, STICK. ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE: BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS.
What was the purple group in Connections #1142?
ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE: BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS.
What made Connections #1142 tricky?
Several words, like STICK, VAULT and BELL, have strong secondary meanings that pull toward other groups, including pointed objects, burial places, and things that ring or hang.