NYT Connections #938 blends straightforward categories with a clever purple wordplay puzzle. Football terminology, mechanical verbs, and media terms combine with a creative letter-based twist.
NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 04 January 2026, the puzzle featured a delightful mix of direct categories and clever wordplay that kept solvers on their toes. Some groupings were refreshingly straightforward, while others required a creative leap. Below, you’ll find spoiler-free hints first, followed by the full answers.
NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 04 January 2026
Today’s grid offered something for everyone—strong starting options for confident solvers, paired with a tricky purple category that rewarded creative thinking. The puzzle balanced pop culture familiarity with linguistic playfulness, making it an engaging challenge regardless of your expertise level. A couple of categories revealed themselves quickly, while the final group required lateral thinking and attention to letter patterns.
NYT Connections Hints: 04 January 2026
Category 1:
- Think of media you might subscribe to
- Includes both printed and digital formats
- Often feature stories, photos, and advertisements
- Single editions matter here
Category 2:
- These describe rotational or twisting actions
- You might use them with rope or wire
- Related to movement and mechanics
- Words associated with tools or machinery
Category 3:
- These are defensive football movements
- Players execute these during plays
- Common sports terminology
- Actions that stop opposing offense
Category 4:
- Each word is a synonym for something you sit on
- But there’s a twist with the first letter
- A wordplay pattern connects them all
- Creative and unexpected combinations
NYT Connections Answers: 04 January 2026
Here are the answers for today, grouped by category:
Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:
Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip
Today’s puzzle delivered a well-balanced challenge with clear categories bookending a cleverly disguised purple group. The first three categories rewarded specific knowledge (media, mechanics, football), while the final group punished literal thinking in favor of creative wordplay.
Quick strategy tip: If three categories feel obvious, don’t force them immediately—the purple category often contains hidden letters or linguistic twists that might explain confusing words. Take a moment to examine letter patterns before locking in your answers, especially when dealing with seemingly random words that don’t fit your initial theories.
