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The July 16, 2026, NYT Connections puzzle is #1131. Its four groups are skincare products, shades of black, things associated with precision, and phrases beginning with words for tiny marks. Hints come first below; the complete groupings follow under a spoiler warning.
Hints for Connections #1131
The grid contains NEEDLE, INK, JET, DOT MATRIX, TONER, POINT BREAK, LASER, CHARCOAL, PEEL, PITCH, PERIOD PIECE, BULLSEYE, SPOT REMOVER, EYE CREAM, CLOCKWORK, and CLAY MASK.
- Yellow: Products used in skincare.
- Green: Different descriptions of a dark color.
- Blue: Things associated with accuracy or exactness.
- Purple: Phrases that begin with words for a tiny mark.
These clues point to different kinds of connections: a literal product category, color names, associations, and wordplay based on the first word in a phrase.
Answers for July 16, 2026
Spoilers below: the four complete groups and their answers are listed here.
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#1 Best Overall
Yellow — Skincare products
CLAY MASK, EYE CREAM, PEEL, TONER
Green — Shades of black
CHARCOAL, INK, JET, PITCH
Blue — Associated with precision
BULLSEYE, CLOCKWORK, LASER, NEEDLE
Purple — Starting with tiny marks
DOT MATRIX, PERIOD PIECE, POINT BREAK, SPOT REMOVER
How the groups connect
The yellow group gathers four skincare items. The green group uses familiar words for shades or forms of black. The blue group links objects or ideas associated with precision: a bullseye is an exact target, clockwork suggests precise operation, a laser is a focused beam, and a needle can indicate a fine point.
Rank #2
The purple set relies on the words at the start of the phrases: dot, period, point, and spot can each mean a small mark. The complete phrases—DOT MATRIX, PERIOD PIECE, POINT BREAK, and SPOT REMOVER—make the connection less obvious than a straightforward category.
About the puzzle number
TechRadar and the YourDictionary WordFinder archive both identify the July 16, 2026 puzzle as #1131 and list the same answer sets. Forbes and ComingSoon also publish matching date-specific answers. One search result labels the date #1202, but the opened guides that agree on the date and answers use #1131; #1131 is the consistent identification across those opened sources.
What is NYT Connections?
Connections is a free daily New York Times word game in which players arrange a grid of 16 words, phrases, or symbols into four groups. Categories may hinge on synonyms, cultural references, or wordplay, rather than a simple shared subject. Forbes contributor Kris Holt describes the game in those terms and notes that it is available on the NYT website and NYT Games app. Forbes’ July 16 guide.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
