NYT Connections Hints for 2026-07-28 — Puzzle #1143
Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.
1. The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
2. The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:
C _ _ _ _ _ _H _ _ D _ Y _ _ L _ _ _ T _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ CS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _
3. Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1
COMMAND
Show theme 2
HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
Show theme 3
SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
Show theme 4
STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
NYT Connections answer for 2026-07-28
COMMAND
CAPTAIN, DIRECT, HEAD, LEAD
HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES
EMPIRE, FUJI, GALA, HONEYCRISP
SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"
CLARKS, CAMPER, CONVERSE, CROCS
STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
OTTOMAN, ANNAPOLIS, BOBSLED, EVEREST
Frequently asked questions
The shape of the puzzle
There are 4 categories of 4 words each (16 words total).
The four themes, masked
Each theme below keeps its word shapes and the first letter of every word:C _ _ _ _ _ _H _ _ D _ Y _ _ L _ _ _ T _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _S _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ CS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ W _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ _ _ _
Reveal a theme, one at a time
Show theme 1COMMANDShow theme 2HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLESShow theme 3SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"Show theme 4STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES
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