The New York Times Connections puzzle invites players to categorize 16 seemingly random words into four interconnected groups, each with a hidden association. Today’s grid features a mix of physical actions, clever twists, and nostalgic nods, providing a blend of fun and subtle challenges. Below, you’ll find some helpful hints to steer your thought process, followed by the full solutions when you’re ready to compare your answers.
Overview of the NYT Connections Puzzle: January 25, 2026
This puzzle focuses on familiar words with multiple meanings, making initial guesses both appealing and precarious. Many words appeared interchangeable at a glance, encouraging solvers to pause and reassess their assumptions. The challenge derived more from overlaps rather than obscurities, leading to a gratifying experience once everything fell into place.
Hints for NYT Connections: January 25, 2026
Category 1:
- Consider acts of taking over for another person
- Commonly used in workplace contexts
- Refers to temporary duties
- Associated with replacement or coverage
Category 2:
- Located on a standard computer keyboard
- Typically pressed one at a time, not typed as phrases
- Frequently used in shortcut commands
- Linked to operating systems
Category 3:
- Refers to physical forms rather than ingredients
- Commonly associated with Italian cuisine
- Describes how items are shaped
- You can find these listed on menus
Category 4:
- Small suffixes
- Alter the meanings of base words
- Often denote states or conditions
- Used in the formation of abstract nouns
Answers for NYT Connections: January 25, 2026
Below are the answers, organized by category.
Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:
Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip
The January 25, 2026, Connections puzzle features a mix of straightforward action words and trickier conceptual connections, resulting in a satisfying challenge when all pieces fall into place. Quick strategy tip: identify the more obvious verb groups first, then explore the remaining words for patterns or shared cultural references.
