NYT Connections Hints Today: Check Answers and Clues, January 20, 2026

The New York Times Connections is a daily word puzzle word game published by the The New York Times. The objective of the game is to discover how different words relate to one another. There are 16 words listed within each puzzle. They are all different, and players must group them in 4's of 4 according to a specific Word Category shared by those 4 words. Players will find that they have much fun with this game while still exercising their brains through mental challenges.

This NYT Connections puzzle for January 20, 2026, will carry on with this tradition, but will continue to create new and exciting word groups and have fun, interesting overlaps in relation to the categories. While some Word Groups may seem obvious from the beginning, other Words will require a little more thought in regards to common use phrases or other associations with a Group of 4 words. However, in every puzzle, the challenge is to see the actual groups and identify the correct connections from those traps to ensure that the puzzles are a fun daily mental exercise for avid word game players.

Check Out: NYT Connections Hints Today: Check Answers and Clues, January 6, 2026

Hints for NYT Connections January 20, 2026  

Here are the hints for NYT Connections January 20, 2026 Puzzle #954. You have to club four words together which belong to the same catagory which will get sorted into 4 colours yellow, green, blue and purple. You just need to be good at pattern recognition and ability to sort them into correct categories. 

YELLOW: Things that twist, loop, or weave together.

GREEN: Flying insects famous for honey or stinging.

BLUE: Iconic structures that connect two places over water.

PURPLE: Words that begin like “long for” or “desire for.”

Let us find out the answers to today’s NYT Connections! Let us see how many were you able to get right! 

NYT Connections Answers for January 20, 2026 (Tuesday)

Here are the solutions for NYT Connections Puzzle #954 for January 20, 2026! 

Below you will see the four categories from today’s game, including the correct words that make up each set. Match these answers to your guesses of each category!

YELLOW: INTERTWINE (LACE, TWIST, WEAVE, WIND)

GREEN: KINDS OF BEES (BUMBLE, CARPENTER, HONEY, KILLER)

BLUE: FAMOUS BRIDGES (BROOKLYN, GOLDEN GATE, RIALTO, TOWER)

PURPLE: STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "HANKER FOR" (CRAVEN, DESIREE, NEEDLE, WANTON)

Let’s take the time to review the groups one at a time and look at the connections that bind these four groups together.

What is the NYT Connections Game?

The New York Times has developed the Connections Puzzle, a word-based game that offers players an opportunity each day to group 16 various words into 4 unique categories that belong together based on their similarities. 

Players need to use all 3 of these skills: vocabulary, logic and pattern recognition when playing the NYT Connections game, so they will need to also use patience as they strategically think through and logically reason out how to solve each NYT Connections puzzle. This game is designed to be a source of both fun and intellectual challenge for all ages.

How to Play the NYT Connections Puzzle?

In the NYT Connections Puzzle, players are presented with 16 words that seem completely unconnected. Players must figure out how to group the 16 words into four sets of 4 words each based on something that connects them. 

Some words may look like they will be part of two different groups, which requires players to think logically and pay attention to the details. Pattern recognition, strategic thinking, and a willingness to be wrong and keep trying are all important in completing the puzzle.

Best Strategies to Solve NYT Connections Puzzles

Before solving a NYT Connections puzzle, players should first identify the most easily identifiable word groups available. Identifying synonyms or word categories such as color, animal, shape or occupation can provide valuable assistance.

 By using the methods outlined above when playing the NYT Connections Puzzle, the player will have a greater chance of achieving success.

Other NYT Games to Explore

If NYT Connections has become your new favorite, check out other daily brain teasers and games from The New York Times. 

Wordle: Guess a five-letter word in six attempts. 

Spelling Bee: Craft as many words as possible from a set of seven letters.

Mini Crossword: For a quick wordplay, perfect for a coffee break.

That's all for today's NYT Connections puzzle! Be sure to come back tomorrow for NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 21, 2026.