Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,143 hints and answers for Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #1,143 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

COMMAND

CAPTAIN · DIRECT · HEAD · LEAD

Group 2 - Green

Hint: These four belong together for one clean reason. If two of them pair up in your head first, let the other two confirm it.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES

EMPIRE · FUJI · GALA · HONEYCRISP

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: All four words start with the letter C - the real link runs deeper than that, but it is a place to start.

SHOE BRANDS STARTING WITH "C"

CAMPER · CLARKS · CONVERSE · CROCS

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

STARTING WITH PALINDROMIC NAMES

ANNAPOLIS · BOBSLED · EVEREST · OTTOMAN

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "Leave nothing out"