NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 10 January 2026, the puzzle blended abstract ideas, cultural references, and clever wordplay. Some categories felt instantly familiar, while others required a second look. Below, you’ll find spoiler-free hints first, followed by the full answers.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 10 January 2026

Today’s Connections grid mixed concrete objects with abstract actions and technical language. Some groups felt immediately recognizable, while others relied on understanding secondary meanings. Many solvers likely breezed through one or two categories, then slowed down as overlapping interpretations tried to pull words in the wrong direction.

NYT Connections Hints: 10 January 2026

Category 1:
  • Think physical objects with an empty center
  • All items can carry something through them
  • Common household or everyday items
  • Shape matters more than material
Category 2:
  • Think digital environments or formats
  • Where software is designed to run
  • Often used in tech discussions
  • Related to how users access programs
Category 3:
  • Consider verbs tied to departure or sudden movement
  • Often paired with travel or action
  • Can describe both literal and figurative motion
  • Think “leaving quickly”
Category 4:
  • Think scientific or technical measurements
  • Commonly seen in textbooks or labs
  • Used to quantify physical properties
  • Short, standardized terms

NYT Connections Answers: 10 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 offered a pleasant mix of trivia and orthographic trickery — approachable if you spotted the obvious categories, trickier if you focused only on letters. Quick strategy tip: when a cluster looks like trivia, scan for proper names first; when letters look odd, test pronunciations and small edits.