Issue #581 Sun 12 Jan
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — January 12, 2025
A grid that demands a steady hand and a clear head. The difficulty lies not in the complexity of the lexicon, but in the way several entries pull double duty across the board.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A dusty library shelf where the truth is secondary to the narrative arc.
Literature and conceptual constructs
Synonyms
Members are 7–10 letters; first letters F, I.
FABRICATION
One is FAIRY TALE.
FAIRY TALE · FANTASY · FICTION · INVENTION
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
You catch a glance across a crowded room and decide to bridge the distance.
Interpersonal intentions
Synonyms
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters C, P, R.
WOO
One is CHARM.
CHARM · COURT · PURSUE · ROMANCE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The glow of a cathode ray tube in a darkened arcade corner.
Vintage digital entertainment
Proper nouns
Members are 8–9 letters; first letters A, B, C, D.
CLASSIC ATARI GAMES
One is ASTEROIDS.
ASTEROIDS · BREAKOUT · CENTIPEDE · DEFENDER
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A quarter spinning on the sidewalk or the trail of light against a night sky.
Physical and celestial phenomena
Shared attribute
Members are 6–18 letters; first letters C, D, S.
THINGS FEATURING TAILS
One is COIN TOSS.
COIN TOSS · COMETS · DRESS COAT · SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
FABRICATIONFAIRY TALE · FANTASY · FICTION · INVENTION
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Reveal the green group
WOOCHARM · COURT · PURSUE · ROMANCE
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Reveal the blue group
CLASSIC ATARI GAMESASTEROIDS · BREAKOUT · CENTIPEDE · DEFENDER
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Reveal the violet group
THINGS FEATURING TAILSCOIN TOSS · COMETS · DRESS COAT · SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on January 12, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for January 12, 2025, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on January 12, 2025?
NYT Connections on January 12, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on January 12, 2025?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #581?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words