TODAY'S WORDS, SIMPLY EXPLAINED

NYT Connections word definitions, without spoilers.

Plain-English meanings for today's words. No hints, categories or answers.

Definitions for July 20, 2026

Puzzle #1211

OYSTER

A type of marine mollusk with a rough, irregular shell that is often eaten raw or cooked as seafood.

MEADOW

A field of grass and wildflowers, often used for hay or grazing animals.

WISDOM

The ability to make sound decisions and judgments based on knowledge, experience, and understanding.

SOUND

Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.

BUTTON

A small fastener sewn onto clothing used to join two pieces of fabric together.

BUBBLE TEA

A sweet tea-based drink that typically contains chewy tapioca pearls or other toppings.

PORTOBELLO

A large, mature variety of the common mushroom, known for its meaty texture and often used in cooking as a meat substitute.

MENU

A list of food and drink options available at a restaurant or café.

TRUMPET

A brass musical instrument with a bright, penetrating sound, typically played by blowing air through closed lips into a mouthpiece and pressing valves to change pitch.

ICON

A symbol or image that represents an idea, object, or person, often used in computing or religious contexts.

HERALD

A person who announces important news or events, often officially or publicly.

SWINE

A pig, especially one raised for food.

SAKES

Plural form of sake, referring to multiple reasons or purposes.

BLARE

To make a loud, harsh, and often continuous noise, typically from a horn, speaker, or alarm.

LINK

A connection or relationship between two or more things.

ALEXA

A virtual assistant developed by Amazon that uses voice recognition to perform tasks, answer questions, and control smart devices.

Play the official puzzle ↗