NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 14 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: 14 January 2026

Today’s grid leaned heavily into concepts and associations rather than literal definitions. A couple of categories appeared deceptively obvious, while one relied on a playful linguistic twist. Overall, this was a satisfying mix that rewarded broad knowledge and careful reading, especially for solvers who double-check patterns before locking answers.

NYT Connections Hints: 14 January 2026

Category 1:
  • All words describe something that doesn’t change
  • Think stable or firmly in place
  • Often used to describe rules or conditions
  • Can apply to both physical and abstract ideas
Category 2:
  • All words refer to people
  • Common in business or service settings
  • Each term describes someone on the receiving end
  • Often paired with providers or sellers
Category 3:
  • Each word forms a larger term when paired correctly
  • Weather plays a role in every example
  • Often used as descriptive prefixes
  • You might picture wintery scenes here
Category 4:
  • Each word commonly follows the same adjective
  • Think of something unspoken or implied
  • The shared word changes the meaning subtly
  • Often used in formal or professional contexts

NYT Connections Answers: 14 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.