NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 24, 2026, #958

Happy Saturday, solvers! I hope you're all cozied up with your favorite pen or pencil, ready to tackle today's colorful Connections puzzle. Speaking of colors, have you ever lost something only to find it in the most unexpected place? I once misplaced my keys in the fridge—don't ask me how they got there!

As you navigate through the puzzle's different tiers today, keep an eye out for those sneaky connections between words. Sometimes, the answers might be hiding in plain sight, disguised in different hues. Remember to scan for loose synonyms and watch out for cross-category decoys!

Have you ever felt like a detective solving a case when piecing together the Connections puzzle? It's like unraveling a mystery, one word at a time. So, are you ready to put on your sleuthing hat and dive into today's challenge? Let's uncover those hidden links together!

If you need a hint or just want to share your progress, don't hesitate to jump in! Happy solving, and may the connections be ever in your favor!

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 4×4 grid, and you must identify four groups of four related words.

Basic Rules

  • You have 16 words total, arranged in a 4×4 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:

  • 🟨 YELLOW: Easiest – usually straightforward categories
  • 🟩 GREEN: Easy-Medium – slightly more complex connections
  • 🟦 BLUE: Medium-Hard – trickier associations or wordplay
  • 🟪 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
🟨 easy
Reveal Hint

Essential items for a fighter

Reveal Answer

GEAR FOR A BOXER

  • GLOVES
  • MOUTHGUARD
  • ROBE
  • SHORTS
🟩 medium
Reveal Hint

Symbols of victory and success

Reveal Answer

CHAMPIONSHIP

  • AWARD
  • CROWN
  • CUP
  • TITLE
🟦 hard
Reveal Hint

Different styles for tops

Reveal Answer

KINDS OF NECKLINES

  • BOAT
  • CREW
  • HALTER
  • SCOOP
🟪 tricky
Reveal Hint

Various objects related to snow

Reveal Answer

SNOW ___

  • CONE
  • GLOBE
  • LEOPARD
  • PEA