NYT Connections Hints and Answers Today, January 30, 2026 (Puzzle #964)
NYT Connections hints January 30 2026 will help you gently narrow down today’s board before you see the full answers. This guide covers the full 16-word list, light hints, deeper category clues, today’s NYT Connections answers today, and quick solving tips for puzzle #964. Spoiler warning: the complete categories and grouped answers appear in the later sections, so scroll carefully if you want to avoid seeing them too early.
Today’s NYT Connections at a Glance (January 30, 2026 – #964)
- Date: Friday, January 30, 2026 – NYT Connections puzzle #964.
- Category overview (no answers yet):
- Yellow group: A type of geographic area or locale.
- Green group: Everyday grooming and beauty tools you’d keep in a kit or bag.
- Blue group: Things with sticky or adhesive surfaces.
- Purple group: Common phrases that end with the word “hand.”
- Want solutions now? Jump to the answers:
How to Use These Hints
- Start by checking the full 16-word list and see which obvious connections you can spot on your own before reading any hints.
- Use the “light hints” section first; if you’re still stuck, move down to the “category hints” for a stronger nudge without fully revealing the board.
- Only scroll to the full categories and grouped answers once you’re ready to confirm or save your streak.
Today’s NYT Connections Word List (January 30, 2026 – #964)
Here are the 16 words that appear on today’s NYT Connections board:
- AREA
- CLUSTER
- PATCH
- COMB
- COMPACT
- NAIL FILE
- TWEEZERS
- BAND-AID
- LINT ROLLER
- STICKER
- TAPE
- HELPING
- MINUTE
- POKER
- UPPER
Today’s NYT Connections Hints (No Category Names Yet)
- Yellow group hint: Think about ways you might describe a small section of a larger place or neighborhood.
- Green group hint: Focus on items you’d use to tidy your hair, nails or face when getting ready.
- Blue group hint: Consider objects that cling to things or pick up lint because of their sticky surfaces.
- Purple group hint: Look for words that can come right before “hand” to make common phrases or expressions.
Category Hints for Today’s Connections
- Yellow category hint: “IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD” – ways to label a region or small section of space.
- Green category hint: “TOOLS IN YOUR MAKEUP BAG” – classic grooming items you use on your appearance.
- Blue category hint: “SURFACES THAT STICK” – everyday objects designed to adhere or pick things up.
- Purple category hint: “PHRASES ENDING IN HAND” – expressions where “hand” is the second word.
Today’s NYT Connections Categories and Answers
The NYT Connections answers for January 30, 2026 (Puzzle #964) are four groups: REGION, GROOMING ITEMS, THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES, and ___ HAND.
Yellow group: REGION
Words: AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, POCKET.
These are all words you can use to describe a specific part or section of a larger place, like a pocket of the city or a patch of land.
Green group: GROOMING ITEMS
Words: COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS.
Each of these is a personal-care tool you might use in front of a mirror, often carried in a purse, makeup bag, or bathroom kit.
Blue group: THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES
Words: BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, TAPE.
These items all rely on some kind of sticky surface, whether it’s tape on a roll, a sticker backing, a lint roller sheet, or the adhesive side of a bandage.
Purple group: ___ HAND
Words: HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, UPPER.
Each word forms a common two-word phrase when placed before “hand,” like helping hand, minute hand, poker hand, and upper hand.
NYT Connections January 30, 2026 Answer Table
| Color | Category name | Words in group |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | REGION | AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, POCKET |
| Green | GROOMING ITEMS | COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS |
| Blue | THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACES | BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, TAPE |
| Purple | ___ HAND | HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, UPPER |
How NYT Connections Works (Quick Refresher)
NYT Connections is a daily New York Times word game where you sort 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared theme. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: yellow is usually easiest, then green and blue, with purple often being the trickiest or most wordplay-heavy. You’re allowed a limited number of mistakes before the game ends, so careful testing of your guesses matters. Once you correctly find a group, those four words disappear from the board, making the remaining categories easier to see.
Solving Tips for Today’s Puzzle
- Start by clustering the obvious “place” words like AREA, PATCH, POCKET and CLUSTER into a potential location-based group.
- Separate grooming tools (COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, TWEEZERS) from objects that might look similar but don’t fit personal care.
- Treat BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER and TAPE as the sticky set; if something sticks or peels, it probably belongs there.
- For the last set, test each leftover word in front of “hand” and see which ones form common phrases.
- If you’re stuck, try shuffling the board to see new visual patterns and avoid burning guesses on near-miss combinations.
