NYT Connections Hints Today: Clues & Answers for January 7, 2026 (#996)
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NYT Connections Hints Today: Clues & Answers for January 7, 2026 (#996)
Searching for NYT Connections hints today? You have come to the right place. If you are struggling to solve the puzzle for January 7, 2026, especially with words like ‘CIDER’, don’t worry—Wyna Liu has designed a grid that is meant to be tricky. The associations often overlap, creating what we call ‘Red Herrings’ to mislead you.
In this guide, we provide spoiler-free hints for the Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple groups. If you are stuck, you can use our interactive tool above to reveal specific answers without spoiling the whole game. Let’s dive in and save your streak!
Spoiler-Free Hints for Today’s Groups
Before you view the answers, try to solve the puzzle using these thematic clues. We have ranked them from easiest (Yellow) to hardest (Purple).
- Yellow Group Hint: Words related to “DOPPELGÄNGER”.
- Green Group Hint: Words related to “PORTION”.
- Blue Group Hint: Words related to “COMMON FLAG SYMBOLS”.
- Purple Group Hint: Words related to “PRESSED USING A PRESS”.
Today’s Connections Answers (January 7, 2026)
Strategy: How to Win NYT Connections Every Time
Connections is not just about vocabulary; it is about lateral thinking. Here are three expert strategies to improve your win rate:
1. The Shuffle Button is Your Friend
The initial grid layout is designed to mislead. Editors place red herrings adjacent to each other (like ‘Pine’ and ‘Apple’). We recommend hitting the ‘Shuffle’ button 3-4 times to disrupt these false patterns before you start.
2. Identify the ‘Purple’ Category First
The Purple category is the ‘Trash Can’ category. It contains the 4 words that don’t fit anywhere else. It is often the hardest because it relies on wordplay. If you can identify the 4 weirdest words on the board, solve them first. This clears the board for the easier categories.
3. Beware of the ‘One Away’ Trap
If you get the ‘One Away’ message, stop guessing immediately. You have found 3 correct words and 1 impostor. Look at the 4 words you selected. Which one has a secondary meaning that could fit into another group? That word is likely the impostor. Do not burn your lives guessing blindly.
The Rise of NYT Connections
Launched in beta in June 2023, Connections quickly became the second most-popular game on the NYT Games app, right behind Wordle. Edited by Wyna Liu, the puzzle challenges players to group 16 words into 4 categories of 4. Unlike crosswords that test trivia, Connections tests your ability to spot hidden patterns and relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When does the Connections puzzle reset?
The puzzle resets every day at midnight local time. If you want to play tomorrow’s puzzle early, you can change your device’s time zone to a region like New Zealand.
2. What do the colors represent in Connections?
The colors indicate difficulty levels: Yellow is the easiest (Straightforward), Green is medium, Blue is tricky, and Purple is the hardest (often involving abstract wordplay).
3. How many mistakes can I make?
You are allowed four mistakes. After your fourth incorrect guess, the game ends, and the correct answers are revealed automatically.
4. Is there an app for NYT Connections?
Yes, you can play Connections within the official New York Times Games app, available on both iOS and Android. It is also available via any web browser.
5. Can I play past puzzles?
Unlike the Crossword, the NYT app does not maintain a playable archive of past Connections puzzles. However, third-party archive sites (like ours!) maintain a history of hints and answers.
About the Author
Our team of word game experts at Word Finder Tips plays NYT Connections every single morning to provide you with human-verified hints. We don’t use AI solvers; we use logic and lateral thinking to ensure you keep your streak alive.
