For fans of The New York Times’ popular Connections puzzle, January 31, 2026, brings puzzle #965, offering a new set of sixteen words to sort. This well-liked word game asks players to find the hidden links between words, putting them into four different groups of four that share a common idea. Whether you’re trying to keep your perfect streak going or just need a little help to solve today’s special puzzle, this guide is here for you.
Below, you will find useful hints to help you figure things out, along with the full answers for today’s NYT Connections.
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a popular daily word game from The New York Times. The objective of the game is to sort a grid of 16 seemingly unrelated words into four groups of four, based on hidden common associations.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
The grid: You are presented with 16 words in a 4×4 grid.
The goal: Your task is to identify four groups of four words that share a hidden connection or category.
Categories: These connections can be based on various things, such as synonyms, common phrases, linguistic patterns (e.g., words with only one vowel, words ending in a certain letter, Themes and Wordplay.
Difficulty: Each of the four categories is colour-coded by difficulty:
Yellow: Easiest
Green: Medium
Blue: Hard
Purple: Trickiest (often involves more abstract connections or wordplay)
How to play NYT connections:
Connections presents a grid of 16 words. Your objective is to identify four groups of four words that share a hidden connection.
Select Words: Click or tap on four words you believe belong together.
Submit Guess: Once you’ve chosen your four, hit the “Submit” button.
Correct Match: If correct, the words will vanish, revealing their category and color. (Yellow is the easiest, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple as the most challenging.)
Incorrect Match: A wrong guess counts as a mistake. You get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
Win: Solve all four groups to win the puzzle!
NYT Connections #965 (January 31, 2026) challenges you to connect 16 words into four themed groups, rated medium difficulty at 2.8/5.
Yellow: Kinds of Parties
Ball, Mixer, Reception, Shower – Social gatherings or celebratory events.
Green: Ways to Apply Paint
Brush, Palette Knife, Roller, Spray Can – Tools and methods for painting surfaces.
Blue: Y-Shaped Things
Slingshot, Stethoscope, Tuning Fork, Wishbone – Objects featuring a Y or forked shape.
Purple: What “Shift” Might Refer To
Computer Key, Dress, Fluctuation, Work Period – Multiple meanings of “shift.”
