NYT Connections Hints for July 23, 2026 — Puzzle #1138

Sixteen words, four hidden categories. Hints reveal structure, then the grouping.

Hints and answers for NYT Connections #1138 on July 23, 2026: how many groups there are, a masked theme for each group, then the four categories one at a time, then all sixteen words and the full grouping.

Puzzle date: July 23, 2026 (2026-07-23) · #1138 · Source: the game's public daily data (https://www.nytimes.com/svc/connections/v2/2026-07-23.json). Hints are derived from that day's verified answer data — no invented clues, difficulty scores or word claims.

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:

S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ _
I _ A _ A _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _
P _ _ _ _ O _ A _ A _ _ _ _ _ _
E _ _ _ _ _ I _ G _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _

3. Reveal a theme, one at a time

Show theme 1

SPHERICAL THINGS

Show theme 2

IN AN ANXIOUS STATE

Show theme 3

PARTS OF AN AIRPORT

Show theme 4

ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS

NYT Connections answer for July 23, 2026 — puzzle #1138

SPHERICAL THINGS

ORANGE, BASEBALL, MARBLE, GLOBE

IN AN ANXIOUS STATE

INTENSE, FEBRILE, EXCITED, FRENETIC

PARTS OF AN AIRPORT

APRON, TERMINAL, RUNWAY, HANGAR

ENDING IN GEOMETRY TERMS

JANGLE, FELINE, APPOINT, DEPLANE

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