Subtle word origins create stronger misdirection than surface meanings across multiple groups.
Business and everyday terms overlap, increasing difficulty without relying on obscure vocabulary.
Phrase-based purple groups remain the most consistent source of late-game challenge.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle relies on clear-cut categories interspersed with a clever layer of misdirection. A quick look at the words reveals that quite a few of them are related to business or to a specific time of the year. The actual trick is in the context-based shift of meaning in languages. Moderately hard is the general impression, and the purple group is the one giving the most pause to many solvers. So the puzzle favors meticulous grouping over quickness.
NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Players receive 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four. Each group shares a common theme. Only one solution exists. Players get three incorrect guesses before the game ends. Groups are color-coded by difficulty, starting with yellow as the easiest and purple as the trickiest.
Let's first dive into the sixteen-word list today before solving the puzzle:
FROSTY
SNOWMAN
AUCTION
RAINMAKER
FIRM
MOVIE
CLIENT
MISTLETOE
FAST
PARTNER
SECURE
ACCOUNT
USER
TREATMENT
TIGHT
CONSUMER
Also Read: NYT Wordle Answer Today for January 14, 2026: Hints and Expert Walkthrough Revealed
Now that you are aware of the words, you must be confused about the categories. So, here’s hints and clues to help you channel your thoughts:
Yellow Group Hint: Not moving
Green Group Hint: End recipient
Blue Group Hint: Weather-related starts
Purple Group Hint: Silent phrase usage
One-Word Hint for Each Group
Still confused? Here are the one word hints for players to find today’s NYT Connections categories:
Yellow: Fixed
Green: Receiver
Blue: Weather
Purple: Silent
Solved the puzzle? Congratulations! If you are still struggling, below are the complete categories and word sets for today’s puzzle:
Yellow (Fixed): FAST, FIRM, SECURE, TIGHT
Green (Receiver of goods or services): ACCOUNT, CLIENT, CONSUMER, USER
Blue (Starting with weather conditions): FROSTY, MISTLETOE, RAINMAKER, SNOWMAN
Purple (Silent _____): AUCTION, MOVIE, PARTNER, TREATMENT
Check Out the Image Below to Learn How to Make the Sets of Today's Puzzle:
The puzzle does not fail to amuse. Terms related to business are shared among the various groups, which causes early misunderstandings. The blue group is astute in its use of the origin of the words instead of their current meaning to keep its reasoning hidden. The purple group stands out through phrase completion, a classic Connections technique.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for January 13, 2026
The NYT Connections puzzle today is perfectly balanced and brilliantly designed. The combination of clear definitions and clever wordplay maintains the interest of the solvers. Silent phrases and the roles of the receivers are among the recurring patterns that keep showing up, giving a reward to players who track past puzzles. January 14 gives a nice challenge in the middle of the week, and there are no unnecessary words.