NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 9, 2026, #944

Happy Friday, puzzlers! As the weekend whispers sweet nothings in our ears, I find myself in the age-old dilemma of choosing between binge-watching a new series, diving into a good book, or experimenting with a new recipe. Tonight, it's a battle of the senses – the aroma of spices wafting through the kitchen competes with the allure of a gripping plotline. Decisions, decisions!

Just like tonight's entertainment options, the "Connections" puzzle presents a delightful array of choices in its color tiers. Each tier offers a unique challenge, so keep your wits about you. And remember, when in doubt, scan for loose synonyms and watch out for cross-category decoys. Those sneaky words love to play hide-and-seek!

So, dear solvers, are you ready to unravel the web of connections waiting for you? Grab a cozy spot, brew your favorite beverage, and let's dive into the puzzle together. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer, there's always room for a fresh perspective. Feel free to reveal hints or jump right in – the puzzle world is your oyster!

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

Used for drinking or transferring liquids

Reveal Answer

HOLLOW CYLINDERS

  • HOSE
  • PIPE
  • STRAW
  • TUBE
🟩 medium
Reveal Hint

Different ways to access programs

Reveal Answer

SOFTWARE PLATFORMS

  • APP
  • DESKTOP
  • MOBILE
  • WEB
🟦 hard
Reveal Hint

Actions related to leaving quickly

Reveal Answer

TAKE OFF

  • BOOK
  • DIP
  • JET
  • SPLIT
🟪 tricky
Reveal Hint

Used to quantify different physical properties

Reveal Answer

UNITS OF MEASURE

  • BAR
  • GRAM
  • MOLE
  • VOLT