Issue #956 Thu 22 Jan
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — January 22, 2026
A grid requiring a steady hand today. The four groups pull in different directions, balancing direct associations against a few wordplay-heavy detours.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
Wiping the steam off the bathroom mirror to see the reflection without a blur.
Visual quality descriptors
Direct synonyms
Members are 5–8 letters; first letters C, D, S.
WELL-DEFINED, AS AN IMAGE
One is CLEAR.
CLEAR · CRISP · DISTINCT · SHARP
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
A warm kitchen late in the afternoon, the smell of butter and baked fruit lingering in the air.
Baked goods
Categorical set
Members are 7–8 letters; first letters C, S, T.
FRUIT DESSERTS
One is COBBLER.
COBBLER · CRUMBLE · STRUDEL · TURNOVER
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
You catch your toe on the rug and nearly send the coffee mug flying.
Errors in action
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters F, M, T.
BUNGLE
One is FLUFF.
FLUFF · FUMBLE · MISS · TRIP
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The stack of glossy covers on the coffee table that you keep meaning to read but never get around to.
Wordplay construction
Suffix addition
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters E, S, T, U.
MAGAZINES PLUS A LETTER
One is ELLEN.
ELLEN · SPINY · TIMER · USE
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
WELL-DEFINED, AS AN IMAGECLEAR · CRISP · DISTINCT · SHARP
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Reveal the green group
FRUIT DESSERTSCOBBLER · CRUMBLE · STRUDEL · TURNOVER
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Reveal the blue group
BUNGLEFLUFF · FUMBLE · MISS · TRIP
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Reveal the violet group
MAGAZINES PLUS A LETTERELLEN · SPINY · TIMER · USE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on January 22, 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 22, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on January 22, 2026?
NYT Connections on January 22, 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 22, 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 #956?
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