NYT Connections Hints Today, January 15, 2026: Categories And Clues Revealed

NYT Connections For Today, January 15, 2026: The New York Times Connections puzzle has become one of the most popular daily word games for people who love a bit of brain-teasing fun. Every day, players are given 16 words and must group them into four groups. Today’s puzzle (#949), brings a mix of new words and more. If you’re stuck or just want to check your answers for NYT Connections for January 15, 2026, this article will tell you about the word list, clues, and tips to sharpen your solving skills:

Today's NYT Connections For January 15, 2026, Word List

Here are all the 16 words from today’s NYT Connections puzzle 

• CEREAL

• STATIC

• MELTED

• SNOW

• LEVITATE

• SALT

• PATRON

• SHOVEL

• HOSE

• STATIONARY

• SPADE

• JACKAL

• FROZEN

• RAKE

• DANDRUFF

• STILL

Today's NYT Connections Hints For January 15, 2026

Here are hints for the four categories in today’s puzzle:

• Yellow Group: Tools related to gardening 

• Green Group: Not moving

• Blue Group: Things with flakes

• Purple Group: Names combined

Today's NYT Connections Categories For January 15, 2026

These clues help explain what links the words together:

• Yellow Group: Everyday items you might use in the garden.

• Green Group: Words that describe things that don’t move or are fixed.

• Blue Group: Items that can appear in flake form.

• Purple Group: Each word is created by joining two male first names together. 

ALSO READ- Why Practising Self-Compassion Actually Rewires Your Brain

Today's NYT Connections For January 15, 2026 Answers

Here are the correct groupings and answers for today’s NYT Connections puzzle (#949): 

• Yellow Group: HOSE, RAKE, SHOVEL, SPADE

• Green Group: FROZEN, STATIC, STATIONARY, STILL

• Blue Group: CEREAL, DANDRUFF, SALT, SNOW

• Purple Group: JACKAL, LEVITATE, MELTED, PATRON

ALSO READ- Is Yapping Good For Your Mental Health? Experts Weigh In

Tips To Solve NYT Connections For January 15, 2026

• Look for groups that you can see straight away like tools, colours, or simple meanings. 

• The Purple group is often trickier. If a category seems difficult, check if the words share a less obvious link like parts of other words or shared spelling patterns. 

• Try grouping obvious connections first, the remaining words often become clearer for the other categories. 

• You’re allowed up to four mistakes and always think twice before submitting your answers.  

Enjoy your puzzle and all the best!!

For more such stories, stay tuned to HerZindagi. 

Image credit: New York Times and Freepik