The January 9, 2026 (#943) edition of NYT Connections is back with another tricky puzzle to crack. If you’re looking for some help to figure it out, we’ve got you covered with some clues and hints.
Connections by The New York Times is one of the most unique word puzzles that fans can enjoy online. The game presents a set of 16 different words that players need to sort into groups of four to win. Although they may seem like a random bunch, the words are actually connected by a set of four hidden themes.
Players will only get four guesses to identify these themes and categorize the words accordingly. Furthermore, the game also offers a helpful “one away…” hint whenever someone manages to pick three out of the four correct words for a particular group.
Check out the hints and answers for the January 9 Connections puzzle below.
Connections hints for January 9
The 16 words in today’s puzzle are: NON BLONDES, THIN ICE, DEEP END, 8 BALL, LIMB, HEART EMOJI, CHAINZ, COUTH, CARDINAL, 3 BALL, LEST, OAST, 6 MAFIA, DIRECTION, FORTH, and SOLO CUP.
Here are some hints for each group:
- Yellow Group: This group features things that share a common color.
- Green Group: This collection features words related to difficult situations.
- Blue Group: This set features words associated with popular music artists.
- Purple Group: This group includes words that look similar to the cardinal directions.
What are the Connections answers for today, January 9?
So, without further ado, here are the answers for the January 9 NYT Connections puzzle:
Yellow Group: Things That Are Red – 3 BALL, CARDINAL, HEART EMOJI, and SOLO CUP.
Green Group: Used In Metaphors For Precarious Situations – 8 BALL, DEEP END, LIMB, and THIN ICE.
Blue Group: Musical Artists Minus Starting Numbers – 6 MAFIA, CHAINZ, DIRECTION, and NON BLONDES.
Purple Group: Cardinal Directions With First Letter Changed – COUTH, FORTH, LEST, and OAST.
Fans can also play other popular puzzles on The New York Times, such as the NYT Crossword, Wordle, Strands, and more.
