Struggling with today’s NYT Connections puzzle? You’re not alone! The January 12, 2026, puzzle features some tricky categories that have players scratching their heads. We’ve compiled all the hints and answers you need to conquer today’s challenge.
How to Play NYT Connections
NYT Connections presents 16 words that players must sort into four groups of four. Each group shares a common theme, with categories color-coded by difficulty: yellow (easiest), green, blue, and purple (hardest).
Hints for Today’s Connections Categories
Want to solve it yourself but need a gentle nudge? Here are vague hints for each category:
- Yellow:Â Cozy pieces
- Green:Â Knowledge tiers
- Blue:Â A pledge
- Purple:Â Spare change
Today’s Connections Categories Revealed
Still need more help? Here are the actual category names:
- Yellow:Â Living room furniture
- Green:Â Experience levels
- Blue:Â Promise
- Purple:Â Ending in U.S. coins
Complete Answers for January 12, 2026
Yellow: Living Room Furniture
ARMCHAIR, BOOKCASE, CONSOLE, FOOTSTOOL
This straightforward category includes items commonly found in living rooms. The word “console” might trip you up since it has multiple meanings, but here it refers to a console table.
Green: Experience Levels
EXPERT, INTERMEDIATE, NOVICE, PROFICIENT
These words describe different skill levels, often seen on resumes or language proficiency assessments. Speaking of resumes, check out our NYT Strands guide for more daily puzzle solutions!
Blue: Promise
AGREEMENT, COMPACT, HANDSHAKE, UNDERSTANDING
Each word represents a form of promise or mutual commitment between parties. “Compact” and “handshake” require some creative thinking since they’re not obviously connected to promises.
Purple: Ending in U.S. Coins
CEFTAZIDIME, HEADQUARTER, MONEYPENNY, PUMPERNICKEL
Today’s trickiest category features words ending with U.S. coin names:
- CeftaziDIME
- HeadQUARTER
- MoneyPENNY
- PumperNICKEL
This clever wordplay category definitely earned its purple difficulty rating!
Tips for Solving NYT Connections
- Start with obvious groups – Identify the easiest connections first
- Watch for trick words – Some words fit multiple categories
- Think creatively – Purple categories often involve wordplay
- Use the shuffle button – A fresh arrangement can reveal patterns
Why Players Love NYT Connections
NYT Connections has become a daily ritual for word game enthusiasts. The puzzle tests vocabulary, lateral thinking, and pattern recognition. If you enjoy Connections, you’ll love exploring more word challenges at Shrinkle for additional brain-teasing fun.
Final Thoughts
Today’s puzzle offered a nice mix of straightforward categories and clever wordplay. The purple category featuring hidden coin names was particularly creative. Whether you solved it independently or needed our help, completing Connections is always rewarding.
Bookmark our page for daily NYT Connections hints and answers. See you tomorrow for another puzzle breakdown!