NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 22, 2026, #956

Hey there, puzzle pals! Happy Thursday to you all. Hope your morning cuppa was just the right blend of warmth and comfort. Today, as I sipped my coffee, I couldn't help but think of the puzzle's tiers, like the layers of flavor in a perfect brew. Each tier offering a different challenge, each sip bringing you closer to that aha moment.

As you venture into today's Connections puzzle, keep your eyes peeled for those sneaky decoys that might try to throw you off track. Scan for loose synonyms and watch out for those clever cross-category connections. Remember, sometimes the answer is hiding in plain sight, just like that missing sugar spoon you swear you left on the counter.

So, are you ready to dive in and connect the dots? Don't be shy to reveal a hint or two if you need a nudge in the right direction. Let's unravel this puzzle together and see what colorful connections we can uncover today. Happy solving, folks!

How to Play NYT Connections

Overview

Connections is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times. The goal is to find groups of four words that share something in common. You’re presented with 16 words arranged in a 4ร—4 grid, and you must identify four groups of four related words.

Basic Rules

  • You have 16 words total, arranged in a 4ร—4 grid
  • There are exactly 4 groups of 4 related words each
  • Each word belongs to exactly one group
  • You must find all four groups to complete the puzzle
  • You have 4 mistakes allowed before the game ends

How to Play

  • Look at all 16 words and try to identify patterns or connections
  • Select 4 words you think belong together by clicking/tapping them
  • Click “Submit” to check if your group is correct
  • If correct, those 4 words will be removed and grouped together
  • If incorrect, you lose one of your 4 allowed mistakes
  • Continue until you find all 4 groups or run out of mistakes

Difficulty Levels

The four groups are color-coded by difficulty:

  • ๐ŸŸจ YELLOW: Easiest – usually straightforward categories
  • ๐ŸŸฉ GREEN: Easy-Medium – slightly more complex connections
  • ๐ŸŸฆ BLUE: Medium-Hard – trickier associations or wordplay
  • ๐ŸŸช PURPLE: Hardest – often involves puns, multiple meanings, or very subtle connections

Strategy Tips

  • Start with the most obvious connections first
  • Be careful of red herrings – words that seem to fit multiple categories
  • If you’re unsure, try to eliminate what doesn’t belong first
  • The purple group often involves wordplay, homophones, or very creative connections
  • Don’t guess randomly – you only have 4 mistakes

Scoring

  • Complete the puzzle to see your results
  • Mistakes are tracked but don’t affect your final score
  • Share your results with friends using the share button
  • Results show how many mistakes you made for each group
๐ŸŸจ easy
Reveal Hint

Precise and focused

Reveal Answer

WELL-DEFINED, AS AN IMAGE

  • CLEAR
  • CRISP
  • DISTINCT
  • SHARP
๐ŸŸฉ medium
Reveal Hint

Sweet treats with a fruity twist

Reveal Answer

FRUIT DESSERTS

  • COBBLER
  • CRUMBLE
  • STRUDEL
  • TURNOVER
๐ŸŸฆ hard
Reveal Hint

Mistakes and blunders

Reveal Answer

BUNGLE

  • FLUFF
  • FUMBLE
  • MISS
  • TRIP
๐ŸŸช tricky
Reveal Hint

Popular publications and an added character

Reveal Answer

MAGAZINES PLUS A LETTER

  • ELLEN
  • SPINY
  • TIMER
  • USE