The New York Times Connections puzzle for Monday, July 13, 2026, presents a challenge that combines everyday vocabulary with pop culture references. This particular puzzle features a purple category that requires identifying synonyms for kissing, hidden within words. One of the other categories groups together fictional felines.
The puzzle's four categories are:
Yellow: Interrogate Green: Things with Handles Blue: Fictional Cats Purple: Starting with Smooches
Specific words within these categories include 'Examine', 'Grill', 'Pump', and 'Question' for the yellow group. The green category comprises 'Bucket', 'Drawer', 'Mug', and 'Umbrella'. The blue category features 'Figaro', 'Puss', 'Salem', and 'Tom'. Finally, the purple group contains 'Bussin', 'Kisser', 'Peckish', and 'Smackdown', all related to affection starting with a kiss or smooch.
The puzzle challenges players to find four words that share a common theme for each of the four groups. Some categories, like the purple one, require identifying words embedded within others or using less common vocabulary. The difficulty of the puzzle is often heightened by these wordplay elements, making it a "hard day of the week" challenge for some players.