NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 12, 2026 (Puzzle #946)

NYT Connections January 12: Hints and Answers: Themes Ranging From Home Decor to Money, But With A Twist
NYT Connections Hints and Answers for January 12, 2026 (Puzzle #946)
Written By:
Antara
Reviewed By:
Sankha Ghosh
Published on

Overview

  • Today’s NYT Connections puzzle for January 12 blends clever wordplay with layered logic, offering a moderately challenging grid with satisfying category twists.

  • The January 12 NYT Connections grid features deceptive word choices, overlapping clues, and four distinct themes that test logic, vocabulary, and pattern recognition.

  • With tricky overlaps and creative categories, today’s NYT Connections puzzle delivers a balanced challenge that keeps both casual and veteran players engaged.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is live with a new grid and four new categories to guess. The most attractive part of the puzzle is its selection of words. At one glance, all these phrases look completely non-related, randomly placed, but four of these words must have a connection to form a category. 

While the Yellow one is still easy to guess, the other three will give a hard time to most players. The twist? Sometimes one word shares a connection to more than one group. Like every other day, the January 12 grid has brought clever pairings and a satisfying logic that long-time players will appreciate. It’s a moderate puzzle overall. 

How NYT Connections Works

NYT Connections is among the daily puzzles that The New York Times provides, and it is the most popular among readers. In this game, there are 16 words (or phrases) that have to be put into four groups of four. Every group has a connection - either a theme, a phrase, or a category.

The groups are marked with colors according to their difficulty level:

  • Yellow is typically the most direct.

  • Green calls for a little more logical thinking.

  • Blue is more oriented to cultural or linguistic knowledge.

  • Purple is more likely to contain complex wordplay or references to popular culture.

Every round gives three wrong guesses before the end of the game; every selection becomes crucial.

Today’s 16 Words List

Let’s first check out the words the NYT Connections January 12 has presented to players:

INTERMEDIATE, ARMCHAIR, FOOTSTOOL, EXPERT, AGREEMENT, CONSOLE, COMPACT, HANDSHAKE, HEADQUARTER, BOOKCASE, MONEYPENNY, PUMPERNICKEL, NOVICE, PROFICIENT, UNDERSTANDING, CEFTAZIDIME

Today’s Connections Hints

  • Yellow Group: These terms are associated with living room decors that IKEA can offer. 

  • Green Group: These terms are associated with one’s knowledge tiers. 

  • Blue Group:  These terms are associated with making a deal. 

  • Purple Group: These terms have money inside them. 

Also Read: NYT Wordle Answer Today for January 12, 2026: Hints and Expert Walkthrough Revealed

Full NYT Connections Answers for January 12, 2026

The above-mentioned clues must have directed you to the right track. However, those who are still struggling below are the solutions to NYT Connections January 12: 

Yellow Group (LIVING ROOM FURNITURE): ARMCHAIR, BOOKCASE, CONSOLE, FOOTSTOOL

Green Group (EXPERIENCE LEVELS): EXPERT, INTERMEDIATE, NOVICE, PROFICIENT

Blue Group (PROMISE): AGREEMENT, COMPACT, HANDSHAKE, UNDERSTANDING

Purple Group (ENDING IN U.S. COINS): CEFTAZIDIME, HEADQUARTER, MONEYPENNY, PUMPERNICKEL

Check Out the Image Below to Learn How to Make the Sets of Today's Puzzle:

Final Thoughts

NYT Connections are tricky, but every time it’s equally exciting. Despite today’s puzzle being rated 1.7 out of 5, some players may struggle to find the categories. That’s the most attractive part of this puzzle. The game appeals to those who love challenges. Unlike others, Connections offers four different themes every day, making it both complicated and exciting, and these themes never get repeated. 

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