NYT Connections Hints and Answers Today, January 31, 2026 (Puzzle #965)
NYT Connections hints January 31 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 strategy tips for puzzle #965. Spoilers appear gradually, so you can stop scrolling when you’ve had enough help.
NYT Connections #965 – Quick Overview
- Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026 – NYT Connections puzzle #965.
- Yellow group: A set of different kinds of social events and celebrations (no words yet).
- Green group: Tools or methods you’d use to put paint on a surface (still no word list).
- Blue group: Objects that share a distinctive Y-shaped outline.
- Purple group: Different things the word “shift” could describe in everyday life.
How to Use These Hints
- Start with the light hints section to see the general idea of each color without any spoilers on exact categories.
- Move to the category-level hints when you’re close and just need a nudge toward the themes.
- Scroll to the full categories and answers only if you’re stuck or want to check your final board.
Today’s NYT Connections Word List (January 31, 2026 – Puzzle #965)
Here are all 16 words that appear in today’s NYT Connections puzzle #965:
- BALL
- MIXER
- RECEPTION
- SHOWER
- BRUSH
- PALETTE KNIFE
- ROLLER
- SPRAY CAN
- SLINGSHOT
- STETHOSCOPE
- TUNING FORK
- WISHBONE
- COMPUTER KEY
- DRESS
- FLUCTUATION
- WORK PERIOD
Today’s NYT Connections Hints (No Category Names Yet)
Use these light clues first; they point you in the right direction without revealing the group titles.
- Yellow group: Think about different social gatherings you might host or attend, from casual get-togethers to big life events.
- Green group: Focus on the various tools or methods you’d reach for when you want to get paint onto a wall, canvas, or object.
- Blue group: Picture items whose overall silhouette looks like the letter Y when you outline them in your mind.
- Purple group: Consider contexts where the word “shift” pops up, from work schedules to clothing and even changes in data or trends.
Category Hints for Today’s Connections
Here are slightly stronger nudges that echo the actual category ideas, still without listing the grouped words.
- Yellow: Types of celebrations you might mark with guests, gifts, or formal invitations.
- Green: Tools to apply pigment in art, DIY, or decorating projects.
- Blue: Things that are notably Y-shaped when you look at their structure.
- Purple: What “shift” might refer to in different situations, from clothing style to time on the job or movement in numbers.
Today’s NYT Connections Categories and Answers
The NYT Connections answers for January 31, 2026 (Puzzle #965) are four groups: KINDS OF PARTIES, WAYS TO APPLY PAINT, Y-SHAPED THINGS, and WHAT “SHIFT” MIGHT REFER TO.
Yellow group: KINDS OF PARTIES
Words: BALL, MIXER, RECEPTION, SHOWER
These four all name different social events, from formal dances and wedding events to casual social gatherings and gift-focused celebrations.
Green group: WAYS TO APPLY PAINT
Words: BRUSH, PALETTE KNIFE, ROLLER, SPRAY CAN
Each word is a distinct method or tool for spreading paint, whether you are painting walls, decorating surfaces, or working on canvas.
Blue group: Y-SHAPED THINGS
Words: SLINGSHOT, STETHOSCOPE, TUNING FORK, WISHBONE
These items are grouped because their overall form resembles the letter Y, especially when you look at their branching or pronged parts.
Purple group: WHAT “SHIFT” MIGHT REFER TO
Words: COMPUTER KEY, DRESS, FLUCTUATION, WORK PERIOD
Here, “shift” connects to a keyboard key, a style of clothing, a change in measurements or data, and a block of time you work on a job.
NYT Connections January 31, 2026 – Category Table
| Color | Category name | Words in group |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | KINDS OF PARTIES | BALL, MIXER, RECEPTION, SHOWER |
| Green | WAYS TO APPLY PAINT | BRUSH, PALETTE KNIFE, ROLLER, SPRAY CAN |
| Blue | Y-SHAPED THINGS | SLINGSHOT, STETHOSCOPE, TUNING FORK, WISHBONE |
| Purple | WHAT “SHIFT” MIGHT REFER TO | COMPUTER KEY, DRESS, FLUCTUATION, WORK PERIOD |
How NYT Connections Works (Quick Refresher)
Connections gives you 16 words that must be sorted into four groups of four, each group tied together by a hidden category. Colors indicate difficulty, with yellow as the easiest, then green and blue, and purple as the trickiest set. You select four words at a time; the game tells you if the group is correct or if you are “one away.” You only get four mistakes before you lose, and a new puzzle goes live every day.
Solving Tips for Today’s Puzzle
- Start by pulling out the obvious social events (BALL, MIXER, RECEPTION, SHOWER) since they stand out as celebration words.
- Next, isolate anything clearly related to painting or art tools (BRUSH, PALETTE KNIFE, ROLLER, SPRAY CAN) to avoid mixing them with other objects.
- For the blue group, visualize each item’s shape and check whether it branches like a Y, which helps separate SLINGSHOT, WISHBONE, and others from abstract words.
- When stuck on purple, test where “shift” naturally pairs in phrases—keyboard, dress, shift in the market, work shift—to lock in COMPUTER KEY, DRESS, FLUCTUATION, and WORK PERIOD.
- If two groups feel similar, prioritize the more concrete, physical connections first (parties and paint tools), then tackle the abstract or metaphorical links.
