Play Connections #1144
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 #1144 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
These all help hold things together in construction, crafts, or the office.
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Green group hintGentle hint
All of these describe something ordinary with no special flair or frills.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Think of small, valuable bits of insight that a wise person might hand out.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each of these can start the name of a flat surface at the front of a school room.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words are colors or color-like, such as white and cream-style shades, and bland-sounding words, which tempts you to group them together.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- FASTENERS
- NONDESCRIPT
- UNITS OF WISDOM
- ___BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM
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Difficulty: Medium. The fastener and classroom groups are fairly clear, but the bland-sounding words and the sage-advice phrases take some sorting.
Connections #1144 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for July 29, 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
NAIL is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is FASTENERS.
Show all four words
NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE
Show one word
BASIC is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is NONDESCRIPT.
Show all four words
BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA
Show one word
GEM is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is UNITS OF WISDOM.
Show all four words
GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD
Show one word
BLACK is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ___BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM.
Show all four words
BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- NAIL: Hammered in to join pieces of wood.
- RIVET: Metal pin that joins sheets of metal permanently.
- SCREW: Threaded fastener turned into material.
- STAPLE: U-shaped metal piece that binds paper or wood.
- BASIC: Plain and unremarkable, without extras.
- MID: Slang for mediocre or merely average.
- PLAIN: Simple and undecorated.
- VANILLA: Standard and unexciting, like the default flavor.
- GEM: A precious little bit of advice or insight.
- NUGGET: A small, valuable piece of knowledge.
- PEARL: A polished saying, as in a gem of insight.
- WORD: Common unit of advice, as in a word to the wise.
Purple group explained
- BLACK: Classic dark slate used with chalk.
- CHALK: Name for the traditional writing surface.
- CORK: Pinboard for posting notices and student work.
- WHITE: Smooth surface for dry-erase markers.
What does MID mean?
Modern slang for something mediocre, unremarkable, or just average, often said dismissively about a movie, song, or person. It is a shortened form of 'middling' or 'middle of the road.' It fits here as a synonym for nondescript.'
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 28 | #1143 | STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES |
| Jul 27 | #1142 | ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE |
| 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 |
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 29
Connections #1144 questions
What were the Connections answers on July 29, 2026?
FASTENERS: NAIL, RIVET, SCREW, STAPLE. NONDESCRIPT: BASIC, MID, PLAIN, VANILLA. UNITS OF WISDOM: GEM, NUGGET, PEARL, WORD. ___BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE.
What was the purple group in Connections #1144?
___BOARDS IN A CLASSROOM: BLACK, CHALK, CORK, WHITE.
What made Connections #1144 tricky?
Several words are colors or color-like, such as white and cream-style shades, and bland-sounding words, which tempts you to group them together.