Issue #961 Tue 27 Jan
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — January 27, 2026
Today's grid asks for a steady hand. You will find two groups that rely on straightforward identification, paired with two others requiring a sharper eye for structural patterns.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The dinner party guest who keeps everyone leaning in, waiting for the punchline, long after the plates are cleared.
Personality descriptors
Synonyms for a type of person
Members are 4–9 letters; first letters C, J.
QUITE THE LAUGH
One is CARD.
CARD · CHARACTER · CUTUP · JOKER
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The arena lights, the sound of skates carving ice, and the crowd shifting in unison during a power play.
Professional sports franchises
Direct classification
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters D, F, P, R.
NHL TEAM MEMBER
One is DEVIL.
DEVIL · FLYER · PENGUIN · RANGER
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A dusty volume of folklore pulled from the back shelf, where the names of outlaws and their companions remain etched in ink.
Literary figures
Word-part associations
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters F, M, R, S.
FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
One is FRIAR.
FRIAR · MAID · ROBIN · SHERIFF
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The garage bin filled with scuffed mitts and wooden handles, waiting for the first thaw of spring.
Linguistic construction
Compound words sharing a starting segment
Members are 8–9 letters; first letters B, C.
STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR
One is BALLROOM.
BALLROOM · BASEMENT · BATMOBILE · CAPSTONE
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
QUITE THE LAUGHCARD · CHARACTER · CUTUP · JOKER
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Reveal the green group
NHL TEAM MEMBERDEVIL · FLYER · PENGUIN · RANGER
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Reveal the blue group
FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMESFRIAR · MAID · ROBIN · SHERIFF
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Reveal the violet group
STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEARBALLROOM · BASEMENT · BATMOBILE · CAPSTONE
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on January 27, 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 27, 2026, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on January 27, 2026?
NYT Connections on January 27, 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 27, 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 #961?
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