NYT Connections Hints Today, January 22, 2026: Clues To Crack Every Group

NYT Connections For Today, January 22, 2026: If you’re stuck on NYT Connections today or just want to check your answers, in this guide we will break down the full puzzle with hints and tips for NYT Connections for January 22, 2026. Connections is a popular daily word game from The New York Times where you’re given 16 words and need to sort them into four groups of four that share a hidden theme. Read everything about NYT Connections hints, clues, and answers for January 22, 2026 (#956):

Today's NYT Connections For January 22, 2026, Word List

Here are the 16 words from today’s Connections puzzle:

• ELLEN

• DISTINCT

• SHARP

• USE

• CRUMBLE

• CRISP

• MISS

• TIMER

• FUMBLE

• COBBLER

• STRUDEL

• TRIP

• TURNOVER

• CLEAR

• FLUFF

• SPINY

Today's NYT Connections Hints For January 22, 2026:

• Yellow Group: Well-defined images

• Green Group: Fruit desserts

• Blue Group: Failed in a way

• PurpleGroup: Magazines + letter 

Today's NYT Connections Categories For January 22, 2026:

• Yellow Group: Think of words you might use to describe a crisp, clear picture.

• Green Group: Sweet treats you’d find with fruit as a main ingredient.

• Blue Group: Words that describe mistakes or mishaps.

• Purple Group: Wordplay category where each word connects to magazine titles with an extra letter. 

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Today's NYT Connections For January 22, 2026 Answers

Here are the full answers for NYT Connections #956:

• Yellow Group: DISTINCT, SHARP, CLEAR, CRISP

• Green Group: COBBLER, TURNOVER, CRUMBLE, STRUDEL

• Blue Group: FLUFF, TRIP, FUMBLE, MISS

• Purple Group: TIMER, USE, ELLEN, SPINY

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Tips To Solve NYT Connections For January 22, 2026 Puzzle Faster

• Look for words that clearly belong together, often the easiest group (yellow) is the one that jumps out first.

• A single anchor word from each category can help you test ideas without spoiling everything. 

• Avoid quick guesses on tricky words. Some words seem like they belong in more than one group (like CRISP), so hold those until other categories are clearer. 

• Categories like magazines plus a letter might rely on word-play rather than obvious shared meaning. 

• If the puzzle feels stuck, use the shuffle option to see the words in a new layout, you might spot something new. 

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Image credit: New York Times and Freepik