The July 19, 2026 edition of the New York Times “Connections” puzzle is featured in Erik Kain’s Forbes guide, offering helpful hints and full answers for solvers. “Connections” is the NYT's second most popular puzzle after the crossword, challenging players to group 16 words into four distinct sets of four linked words. This puzzle typically ramps up in difficulty through color-coded levels, with Sunday’s edition rated as the easiest on the Connections Bot scale, scoring 1/5.

Kain breaks down the four groups of words by color: yellow, blue, green, and purple. The yellow set — breaker, fuse, relay, switch — represents circuit components. The blue group — drain, flush, refill, swirl — covers actions related to toilets. Green words — connect, join, pair, sync — describe digital coupling verbs, signaling interaction between devices. Lastly, purple words — game, long, poker, straight — correspond to poker face expressions.

The article highlights some common stumbling blocks, such as misleading overlaps in word associations. For example, fuse could mistakenly be linked to join, and flush appears in both blue and purple groups causing confusion. Kain also notes that while the puzzle is simple, the choices require thought and a limited number of guesses to avoid losing the game. For those who want to bypass trial and error, his guide offers foolproof answers.

Readers are encouraged to engage with the puzzle community on social media through Kain’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook channels. The article also promotes access to the NYT Games platform for playing “Connections” and other puzzles daily, alongside subscription options for unlocking archives. This thoughtful walk-through helps puzzle enthusiasts sharpen their skills and enjoy a relaxing Sunday challenge.