NYT Connections Answers and Hints for 21 January 2026
21 January 2026 – The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, number 955, is now live. Today’s challenge, rated at a difficulty of 2.3 out of 5 by the Connections Companion, tasks players with grouping sixteen words into four clever categories. For those seeking assistance, the full solutions and strategic hints are detailed below.
Today’s Connections Puzzle #955
The sixteen words presented in the 21 January puzzle are: Throw, Crib, Copy, Newspaper, Pirate, Cave, Bottle, Mobile, Blanket, Can, Lift, Signal, Sham, Suit, Cardboard Box, and Sheet. Solvers must identify the four hidden connections, each categorised by a colour denoting its difficulty level from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple).
Official Answers for 21 January
| Colour & Difficulty | Category & Words |
|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow (Easiest) | Items to Recycle: Bottle, Can, Cardboard Box, Newspaper |
| 🟩 Green (Medium) | Bedding: Blanket, Sham, Sheet, Throw |
| 🟦 Blue (Hard) | Plagiarize: Copy, Crib, Lift, Pirate |
| 🟪 Purple (Hardest) | Batman’s “Bat” Things: Cave, Mobile, Signal, Suit |
How to Play NYT Connections
Connections is a daily word puzzle where players are given a grid of sixteen words. The objective is to sort these words into four groups of four based on a common theme. Each correct group is revealed with a colour indicating its difficulty. Players are allowed a maximum of four incorrect guesses before the game ends. A new puzzle is released at midnight in the player’s local timezone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the new NYT Connections puzzle released?
The daily Connections puzzle refreshes at midnight in your local timezone.
Who edits the NYT Connections game?
The puzzles are curated and edited by Wyna Liu, a crossword constructor who has been editing puzzles for The New York Times since 2020.
Where can I play NYT Connections?
The game is free to play on the NYT Games website, within The New York Times Games app, and in the Play tab of The New York Times News app. No subscription is required.
What was the answer to yesterday’s puzzle (#954)?
The Connections groups for 20 January 2026 were: 🟨 Intertwine (Lace, Twist, Weave, Wind), 🟩 Kinds of Bees (Bumble, Carpenter, Honey, Killer), 🟦 Famous Bridges (Brooklyn, Golden Gate, Rialto, Tower), and 🟪 Starting with Synonyms for “Hanker For” (Craven, Desiree, Needle, Wanton).