NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 15 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: 15 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: 15 January 2026

Category 1:
  • Common items you might store in a shed
  • Used outdoors for maintenance or planting
  • Often paired with soil, plants, or water
  • Physical objects with clear functions
Category 2:
  • Describes a lack of movement
  • Can apply to objects or people
  • Suggests no change over time
  • Often used as adjectives
Category 3:
  • Typically seen as small pieces
  • Not usually found whole
  • Can make a mess when spilled
  • Often associated with texture
Category 4:
  • Built from two familiar first names
  • Hidden wordplay within each term
  • Not obvious at first glance
  • Requires splitting words mentally

NYT Connections Answers: 15 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.