MEDIUMPuzzle #1117

NYT Connections Hints & Answers (#1117) – Today's Puzzle, Jul 2

TODAY'S NYT CONNECTIONS TIP

“Start by identifying THEY IMPERSONATE OTHER THINGS (COPYCAT, MIME...) to narrow down the remaining 16-word grid!”

Written by Naveed Ahmed · Updated: July 2, 2026

← Yesterday's Connections Hint (#1116, Jul 1)

Connections Hint for Each Word Today

Tap any word to see its Connections hint — what it means in today's puzzle, no spoilers.

COPYCAT hint: In the context of they impersonate other things, "COPYCAT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

MIME hint: In the context of they impersonate other things, "MIME" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

MOCKINGBIRD hint: In the context of they impersonate other things, "MOCKINGBIRD" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

T-1000 hint: In the context of they impersonate other things, "T-1000" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

LOOKING GLASS hint: In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "LOOKING GLASS" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

SPECTACLES hint: In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "SPECTACLES" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TALKIE hint: In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "TALKIE" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

WATER CLOSET hint: In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "WATER CLOSET" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

BILLY GOAT hint: In the context of starting with nicknames, "BILLY GOAT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

DAN DAN NOODLES hint: In the context of starting with nicknames, "DAN DAN NOODLES" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

RICH TEXT hint: In the context of starting with nicknames, "RICH TEXT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TOM-TOM hint: In the context of starting with nicknames, "TOM-TOM" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

COURT JESTER hint: In the context of starting with sports venues, "COURT JESTER" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

DIAMOND RING hint: In the context of starting with sports venues, "DIAMOND RING" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

FIELD MOUSE hint: In the context of starting with sports venues, "FIELD MOUSE" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TRACK RECORD hint: In the context of starting with sports venues, "TRACK RECORD" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

Hints uncovered0 / 16

Today's NYT Connections Hints for All Four Categories

Reveal progressively: see the category hint first, then the group name, then individual words — stop whenever you have enough.

🟡 Straightforward

🟢 Medium

🔵 Hard

🟣 Tricky

⚠️Traps & Misdirects Hints for Today’s Connections Puzzle

Today’s Connections puzzle includes words intentionally placed to misdirect you into wrong groups. These traps and misdirects hints reveal which words are designed to mislead, so you don’t burn your 4 allowed mistakes on deliberate decoys.

LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET

In today's medium category (OLD-TIMEY NAMES FOR THINGS WE STILL USE), pay close attention to subtle shifts in meaning. Words like LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET may appear to belong to other everyday contexts, but their true connection lies in their shared relationship to OLD-TIMEY NAMES FOR THINGS WE STILL USE.

COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD

The trickiest grouping today is "STARTING WITH SPORTS VENUES". Words such as COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD are designed as intentional misdirects. Look past their obvious surface meanings for hidden wordplay or secondary definitions.

BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM

Be careful with overlap between BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM and other categories on the board. The editor often places decoy pairings in "STARTING WITH NICKNAMES" to trap unsuspecting players into using up their 4 allowed mistakes.

Today's NYT Connections Answers

Click to reveal the complete solution — all four categories.

Category: THEY IMPERSONATE OTHER THINGS (Straightforward) — Answers: COPYCAT, MIME, MOCKINGBIRD, T-1000

Category: OLD-TIMEY NAMES FOR THINGS WE STILL USE (Medium) — Answers: LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET

Category: STARTING WITH NICKNAMES (Hard) — Answers: BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM

Category: STARTING WITH SPORTS VENUES (Tricky) — Answers: COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD

Today's NYT Connections Answers Explained

THEY IMPERSONATE OTHER THINGS

The words COPYCAT, MIME, MOCKINGBIRD, T-1000 all share a unique thematic connection as they impersonate other things.

COPYCAT

In the context of they impersonate other things, "COPYCAT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

MIME

In the context of they impersonate other things, "MIME" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

MOCKINGBIRD

In the context of they impersonate other things, "MOCKINGBIRD" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

T-1000

In the context of they impersonate other things, "T-1000" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

OLD-TIMEY NAMES FOR THINGS WE STILL USE

The words LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET all share a unique thematic connection as old-timey names for things we still use.

LOOKING GLASS

In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "LOOKING GLASS" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

SPECTACLES

In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "SPECTACLES" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TALKIE

In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "TALKIE" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

WATER CLOSET

In the context of old-timey names for things we still use, "WATER CLOSET" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

STARTING WITH NICKNAMES

The words BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM all share a unique thematic connection as starting with nicknames.

BILLY GOAT

In the context of starting with nicknames, "BILLY GOAT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

DAN DAN NOODLES

In the context of starting with nicknames, "DAN DAN NOODLES" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

RICH TEXT

In the context of starting with nicknames, "RICH TEXT" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TOM-TOM

In the context of starting with nicknames, "TOM-TOM" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

STARTING WITH SPORTS VENUES

The words COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD all share a unique thematic connection as starting with sports venues.

COURT JESTER

In the context of starting with sports venues, "COURT JESTER" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

DIAMOND RING

In the context of starting with sports venues, "DIAMOND RING" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

FIELD MOUSE

In the context of starting with sports venues, "FIELD MOUSE" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

TRACK RECORD

In the context of starting with sports venues, "TRACK RECORD" stands out as a clear, defining example within this group.

What Makes Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle Tricky?

LOOKING GLASS, SPECTACLES, TALKIE, WATER CLOSET sit alongside BILLY GOAT, DAN DAN NOODLES, RICH TEXT, TOM-TOM and phrases like COURT JESTER, DIAMOND RING, FIELD MOUSE, TRACK RECORD — a collision of distinct word groups and subtle misdirects.

The editor's sharpest trick is hiding a word-within-a-word: some of the multi-word phrases are not grouped by their topic but by what their first word secretly means.

How to Use Connections Hints

Everyone playing NYT Connections puzzle gets stuck at a different point. Some players can’t figure out a single word. Others have three groups solved and can’t find the fourth. Where you are stuck determines which connection hint you need.

A word in the puzzle has an unfamiliar meaning

Some words in today’s NYT Connections puzzle are uncommon. Connections editor Wyna Liu often uses words with specific or less familiar meanings, particularly in the green, blue, and purple categories. If you don’t know what a word means, you cannot reliably place it in a group.

Recommendation: Use the Word Hint. It tells you what the word means in the context of today’s puzzle. Tap any word directly on the board above to see its hint.

No groups are forming after reading all sixteen words

The connection between words is often not obvious from their meanings alone — categories are built around themes that require a specific angle to see. These category-level clues are the most useful hints.

Recommendation: Use the Category Hint. It points you toward the theme of a category without revealing the category name or which words belong to it. Tap “Yellow Category Hint” first.

You have a possible group but aren’t ready to guess

You think four words belong together but you’re not confident enough to guess. If you’re unsure, don’t guess yet — a wrong guess costs you one of your four mistakes.

Recommendation: Use the Category Name. It reveals the exact name of the category without showing you which words belong to it.

One word seems to fit more than one group

You have built a group of four words but one word in it could also fit somewhere else. NYT Connections editor Wyna Liu deliberately places misleading words on the board.

Recommendation: Use the Traps and Misdirects Hints. It identifies the specific misleading words in today’s puzzle and explains why they don’t belong where you think they do.

You know the category but can’t find all four words

You have identified the theme of a category but can’t find all four words that belong to it.

Recommendation: Use the Word Reveal. It uncovers one masked word at a time without revealing the full group. This is the most precise connection hint available.

One mistake left with two groups unsolved

You have one mistake remaining and two groups unsolved. If you guess wrong here, the game ends and NYT reveals all the answers automatically.

Recommendation: Do not guess yet. Use the Category Name for both remaining groups first. If that is still not enough, tap “Category Words” and reveal one word at a time.

You want today’s answers without solving the puzzle

Use the Answers section. It shows all four category names and the four words that belong to each one.

Recommendation: Go to the Answers section.

The puzzle is over but a category still doesn’t make sense

You can see the four groups and their words but the connection between them isn’t clear.

Recommendation: Use the Answer Explanation. It tells you exactly what connects the words in each category and why each individual word belongs there.

Browse Past Puzzles

View answers and hints for every previous NYT Connections puzzle.

Puzzle Archive →

Frequently Asked Questions

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle by The New York Times where you group 16 words into 4 categories of 4 words each. Each category has a hidden theme color-coded by difficulty.

Yellow is the most straightforward category, Green is medium difficulty, Blue is harder, and Purple contains the trickiest, most misleading groupings.

Yes, NYT Connections is free to play once per day on the New York Times Games website.

A new NYT Connections puzzle releases every day at midnight in your local time zone (12:00 AM ET for US Eastern Time).

Naveed Ahmed

@NaveedAhmedDev•@naveedcolab

Lead Writer & Connections Puzzle Analyst

Naveed is a dedicated puzzle strategist and word game analyst who breaks down daily NYT Connections categories, uncovers tricky wordplay patterns, and delivers progressive, spoiler-free clues to help thousands of players solve every puzzle.