NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 13 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: 13 January 2026

Today’s grid leaned into a mix of everyday nouns, physical actions, and one especially sneaky wordplay-based category. A couple of groups felt very accessible early on, but the final set rewarded solvers who noticed subtle letter-level transformations rather than surface meanings.

NYT Connections Hints: 13 January 2026

Category 1:
  • Often seen together during celebrations
  • Common items used before giving something
  • Related to wrapping or presentation
  • Think of how a surprise is dressed up
Category 2:
  • Actions involving physical contact
  • Typically done in crowds or tight spaces
  • Can be intentional or accidental
  • All suggest pushing or nudging
Category 3:
  • Visual details of a classic board game character
  • Items associated with wealth or old-time style
  • Things a mascot might carry or wear
  • All belong to the same fictional gentleman
Category 4:
  • Body-related words with a twist
  • Each looks slightly unfamiliar at first glance
  • One extra letter changes the meaning
  • Focus on anatomy plus an added starting letter

NYT Connections Answers: 13 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.