NYT Connections is a challenging daily puzzle game that offers players a set of 16 words to arrange into four themed sets.
The theme presents four distinct themes every day, without any connection between them.
It tests vocabulary skills by requiring players to discover hidden links without the themes initially stated.
NYT Connections January 1 grid is live with four new themes and 16 connected words. When you look at the grid, initially, it seems completely meaningless with random words. The task of players is to discover the hidden links between these words. Quick glimpses won’t give you any clue. With a profound observation, these words reveal the four sets of today.
The world of word puzzles is massive, but hardly others compete with the puzzles that The New York Times presents. Whether it's NYT Strands, NYT Connections, or Wordle, each of these web-based word puzzles has its specific word-guessing method. In NYT Connections, the theme isn’t stated initially, but once players guess the right sets, the game reveals the themes:
This puzzle is tricky, but some clues may make things easier for gamers. Here are some hints to help players solve today’s puzzle. Let's start with the hints category-wise:
Easiest Group (Yellow): Today’s yellow group words are Bit of magic
Moderate Group (Green): The green group consists of words related to stripping a layer.
Challenging Group (Blue): The blue group words are generally associated with a nerd.
Most Difficult Group (Purple): Finally, the purple category words have the same beginning
If you are still a bit confused about the themes of today’s puzzle, below are the one-word hints. From every category, one word is listed below:
Bit of magic
Remove the covering from
“Enthusiast" equivalent
Butter____
These hints will help you identify what other words of the category may contain.
The given hints have hopefully resolved the confusion and helped players form the groups without many errors. However, if that’s not the case and some are still trying to figure out the word groups of today, here are the solutions to the NYT Connections of January 1, 2026.
Yellow Category (Bit of magic:): CHARM, CURSE, HEX, SPELL
Green Category (Remove the covering from): PEEL, SHELL, SHUCK, SKIN
Blue Category ("Enthusiast" equivalent): BUFF, HEAD, HOUND, RAT
Purple Category (Butter___): FINGERS, FLY, NUT, SCOTCH
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and congratulations to those who have solved it without any help.
Also Read: How to Make Your Own NYT Connections Game?
NYT Connections’ highlight is its four different themes. Most NYT Puzzles have one theme, and the words are all related to that specific theme. However, it changes when it comes to NYT Connections. Every day, there are four new themes, which captivate puzzle enthusiasts across the world.
Without a sound knowledge of the connection between words, there’s no way one can guess the exact word groups without help. The solution not only provides players with a satisfying experience but also enriches their vocabulary.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for November 20, 2025