Issue #935 Thu 1 Jan
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — January 1, 2026
Today's grid offers a steady progression, moving from direct associations toward a few lateral pivots that require a second look. Expect a standard level of difficulty that favors clear heads over complex wordplay.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A smudge of salt over the left shoulder or a coin tossed into a fountain.
Folk practices
Direct synonyms
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters C, H, S.
BIT OF MAGIC
One is CHARM.
CHARM · CURSE · HEX · SPELL
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The discarded pile of rinds and husks left on the cutting board after a long afternoon in the kitchen.
Food preparation
Action verbs
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters P, S.
REMOVE THE COVERING FROM
One is PEEL.
PEEL · SHELL · SHUCK · SKIN
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
The quiet intensity of a person who has memorized every statistic in the back of a baseball card.
Personal interests
Synonyms for a type of person
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters B, H, R.
"ENTHUSIAST" EQUIVALENT
One is BUFF.
BUFF · HEAD · HOUND · RAT
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A sticky residue left on the counter after toast has been neglected for too long.
Compound words
Common prefixes
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters F, N, S.
BUTTER___
One is FINGERS.
FINGERS · FLY · NUT · SCOTCH
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
BIT OF MAGICCHARM · CURSE · HEX · SPELL
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Reveal the green group
REMOVE THE COVERING FROMPEEL · SHELL · SHUCK · SKIN
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Reveal the blue group
"ENTHUSIAST" EQUIVALENTBUFF · HEAD · HOUND · RAT
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Reveal the violet group
BUTTER___FINGERS · FLY · NUT · SCOTCH
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on January 1, 2026. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for January 1, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on January 1, 2026?
NYT Connections on January 1, 2026 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 1, 2026?
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 #935?
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