Puzzle fans working through Monday's New York Times Connections game have their solution: puzzle #1128, released July 13, 2026, sorted 16 words into four groups spanning synonyms for interrogation, everyday objects with a shared physical feature, fictional cats and a clever wordplay category built around hidden kiss-related slang, according to multiple outlets tracking the daily game.

Connections challenges players to organize 16 seemingly unrelated words into four hidden groups of four, with each group linked by a shared theme, color-coded by difficulty from yellow, the easiest, through green, blue and finally purple, traditionally the most difficult and often built around wordplay rather than straightforward meaning. Players select four words at a time and submit a guess, with the game indicating correct groupings by color and offering a "one away" warning when a guess is close but not quite right. Four incorrect guesses end the puzzle.

Monday's yellow category centered on synonyms for interrogation, grouping the words examine, grill, pump and question, all terms that can describe pressing someone for answers. According to puzzle guide FluentSlang, the category carried a built-in trap, since "grill" evokes an obviously more intense form of questioning, while "pump" for information is a sneakier fit that many players initially set aside, expecting it to belong instead to a category involving physical pumping actions, gym equipment or footwear.

The green group asked players to identify everyday objects that share a physical feature, linking bucket, drawer, mug and umbrella, all items defined by having a handle. FluentSlang described the category as deceptively simple,........

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