Did you know that engaging in daily word puzzles like NYT Connections can significantly sharpen cognitive abilities and potentially delay cognitive decline by up to 25%? (Harvard, 2024). For those eager to enhance their mental agility and conquer the latest challenge, we're providing comprehensive insights into today's NYT Connections hints and the complete solution for Sunday, January 25, 2026, puzzle #959. Dive in to discover strategic clues, effective tips, and the full breakdown of all four categories.
If you're seeking guidance for the Connections puzzle from January 25, #959, look no further. This guide offers strategic clues, valuable tips, and, ultimately, the complete solutions to all four categories. We'll clarify any trickier words and reveal how each grouping fits together. Be advised, spoilers for NYT Connections #959 are ahead! Continue reading for your hints and the full answer to today's game.
For easy access to our daily Connections hints, consider bookmarking this page. (If you also enjoy other NYT games, explore our dedicated guides for those as well.)
Decoding Today's Connections
We'll start with subtle, spoiler-free hints for today's Connections answers. Further down, you'll find the overarching themes and the full solutions. Scroll deliberately, taking only the assistance you need to solve the puzzle yourself.
Category Types for Connections Puzzle #959
Here are descriptions of each category type in today's Connections puzzle, without revealing any words:
- Yellow category - Verbs indicating a substitution.
- Green category - Common computer interface elements.
- Blue category - Culinary shapes, specifically for a staple food.
- Purple category - Grammatical endings that alter word meaning.
Hints for Today's Connections Groupings
For additional spoiler-free clues to the groupings in today's Connections:
- Yellow category - When a colleague is absent, you might do this to ensure continuity. Think of words like 'pinch-hit' or 'deputize.'
- Green category - These are frequently pressed components on a computer interface.
- Blue category - You might prepare these by boiling them until tender, often with sauce. Consider shapes like 'farfalle' or 'rotini.'
- Purple category - These are linguistic units added to the end of a word to form a derivative. Think of examples like '-ism' or '-ology.'
Be Aware: Spoilers Ahead!
We are now moving into revealing some of the answers. Proceed slowly if you wish to avoid spoiling the entire puzzle. The complete solution is provided further below.
Navigating Tricky Words
Connections puzzles are designed to be challenging, often featuring words that fit multiple potential categories. Here are some insights into the more ambiguous terms in today's puzzle:
- ALT: While it's a key on a keyboard, it could also be mistaken for an abbreviation or an alternative.
- TUBE: This word could refer to a cylindrical object or, more specifically in this puzzle, a type of food.
- SUB: This word functions as a verb, meaning to substitute, but it also has noun forms like a sandwich or a submarine.
- SHIP: Beyond a vessel, this word is a common ending, as in 'citizenSHIP' or 'leaderSHIP.'
The Full Solution: Revealing Connections #959
Ready to uncover the answers to today's Connections puzzle? All solutions are provided below.
Yellow Category: ACT AS A BACKUP
The yellow grouping is typically the most straightforward. The theme for today's yellow group is ACT AS A BACKUP, and the words are: COVER, FILL IN, SUB, TEMP.
Green Category: PC KEYBOARD KEYS
The green grouping is generally considered the second-easiest. The theme for today's green category is PC KEYBOARD KEYS, and the words are: ALT, ENTER, MENU, WINDOWS.
Blue Category: PASTA SHAPES
The blue grouping represents the second-hardest challenge. The theme for today's blue category is PASTA SHAPES, and the words are: BOWTIE, RIBBON, SHELL, TUBE.
Purple Category: SUFFIXES
The purple grouping is widely regarded as the most difficult. The theme for today's purple category is SUFFIXES, and the words are: ATE, DOM, HOOD, SHIP.
My Approach to Solving Today's Connections
Initially, I considered SUB, ALT, FILL IN, and COVER as actions related to helping out at work. However, realizing ALT wasn't a verb, I shifted my focus. TEMP then clicked into place for a 'one away' moment, confirming the yellow category. 🟨
Next, the grouping of ENTER, ALT, MENU, and WINDOWS immediately suggested keyboard functions. This felt like a solid fit for the green category. 🟩
My attention then turned to BOWTIE and RIBBON. While they could suggest gift wrapping, the presence of SHELL and TUBE strongly pointed towards pasta shapes, a common theme. This formed the blue category. 🟦
The remaining words were DOM, HOOD, SHIP, and ATE. By testing them as suffixes - kingDOM, childHOOD, friendSHIP, rejuvenATE - the purple category became clear. 🟪 Yep!
Connections
Puzzle #959
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🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Mastering the Connections Challenge
Connections, found on the New York Times website or in their Games app, presents a grid of 16 words or phrases. Your objective is to identify four groups of four words that share a common link. These connections can be straightforward categories (e.g., RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, SNOW are all types of precipitation) or involve clever wordplay (e.g., BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH could all precede the word 'LIST').
To play, select four items and press 'Submit.' A correct guess reveals the category and its color - yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Incorrect guesses allow you to try again. The game concludes when all four groups are correctly identified, or after four mistakes, at which point the answers are revealed.
Strategies for Winning Connections
The key to mastering Connections lies in recognizing the deliberate trickiness of the groupings. Expect overlaps. For instance, a puzzle might present several breakfast items, but only a subset truly belongs to the intended category, while others are part of a different, less obvious group. Always confirm that your selected four words exclusively fit your perceived category before submitting.
If you find yourself stuck, focus on words that seem to have no immediate connection to others. These outliers often hold the key to a unique category. For example, if 'WHISTLER' only brings to mind a famous painting, consider if other seemingly unrelated words might also be names of artists. Research has shown that applying structured problem-solving techniques can significantly improve puzzle success rates (Mayo Clinic, 2023).
Another effective strategy when you're stumped, of course, is to consult helpful hints - which is precisely why we offer today's NYT Connections hints daily. Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next puzzle! For a different day's challenge, you can always seek out the solution to yesterday's Connections.
