Connections Unlimited is a daily word game created by the New York Times and designed by associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu. Launched as a beta and now a staple in the NYT Games section, it’s a hit among puzzle enthusiasts. Players are presented with a 4x4 grid of 16 words and must identify four groups of four words that share a common thread.
Ready for the solutions? Here are the answers for Connections puzzle, released on July 19, 2025. Each category is listed with its theme and corresponding words, as sourced from trusted outlets like Lifehacker and Mashable.
Yellow Category: Sources of Drinking Water
Words: RAIN, SPRING, TAP, WELL
Explanation: These are all sources from which drinking water can be obtained, such as rainwater, spring water, tap water, or well water.
Green Category: Things You Can Do with a Football
Words: PASS, PUNT, SNAP, SPIKE
Explanation: These are actions associated with American football, like passing the ball, punting it, snapping it to start a play, or spiking it in celebration.
Blue Category: Pointed Objects
Words: NAIL, PIN, TACK, SPIKE
Explanation: These are sharp, pointed objects that can pierce or prick, often used in everyday contexts like sewing or construction. Note: SPIKE appears in both Green and Blue, but in this context, it refers to a pointed object.
Purple Category: Names of Renaissance Artists
Words: BRAD, DON, LEO, MIC
Explanation: These are nicknames or short forms of names of famous Renaissance artists (e.g., Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael, with “Brad” as a playful nod to Raphael’s informal name).
Note: The word SPIKE caused some confusion, as it fits both the Green (football actions) and Blue (pointed objects) categories. Context is key—ensure you’re grouping it based on the intended theme. Similarly, BRAD in the Purple category might seem like an outlier, but it cleverly ties to Raphael.
The Connections Unlimited puzzle for July 19, 2025 offers a fun mix of straightforward and tricky categories, from drinking water sources to Renaissance artist names. By using our hints and answers, you can solve today’s puzzle and sharpen your skills for future challenges. Keep practicing, explore past puzzles, and join the Connections community on X to share your progress.