Issue #960 Mon 26 Jan
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — January 26, 2026
A grid requiring a steady hand to navigate between literal meanings and wordplay. Focus on the subtle shifts in terminology to keep the board clear.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The last bit of toothpaste in the tube, pressed upward with the edge of a credit card.
Verbal and situational synonyms
Synonyms for taking advantage of a resource
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters D, F, M, S.
EXPLOIT
One is DRAIN.
DRAIN · FLEECE · MILK · SQUEEZE
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
You walk past the fence and the animal stares back, refusing to budge from the gate.
Verbal synonyms
Synonyms for intimidating someone
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters B, C, R.
DAUNT
One is BUFFALO.
BUFFALO · COW · RATTLE · RUFFLE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A dark theater, the house lights dimming, and a face appearing on the screen that requires no introduction.
Proper nouns in entertainment
Surname-based identification
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters C, F, W.
ICONIC ACTRESSES
One is CLOSE.
CLOSE · FIELD · FOSTER · WEAVER
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A handwritten label on a jar that seems to be missing a final character due to a cramped pen.
Linguistic wordplay
Words with a terminal letter removed
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters B, G, M, R.
MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER
One is BADGE.
BADGE · GOA · MOOS · RABBI
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
EXPLOITDRAIN · FLEECE · MILK · SQUEEZE
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Reveal the green group
DAUNTBUFFALO · COW · RATTLE · RUFFLE
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Reveal the blue group
ICONIC ACTRESSESCLOSE · FIELD · FOSTER · WEAVER
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Reveal the violet group
MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTERBADGE · GOA · MOOS · RABBI
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on January 26, 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 26, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on January 26, 2026?
NYT Connections on January 26, 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 26, 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 #960?
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