NYT Connections is the daily word game that asks you to sort 16 seemingly unrelated words into four logical groups of four. For 09 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: 09 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: 09 January 2026

Category 1:
  • All items share a very obvious visual trait
  • You might associate these with a single bold color
  • Think of common objects or symbols
  • None of them are abstract ideas
Category 2:
  • These often appear in figurative language
  • You’d hear them when describing risk or danger
  • The meanings aren’t literal
  • All suggest instability or threat
Category 3:
  • Each phrase originally starts with a number
  • The number has been removed
  • All are well-known music acts
  • Think pop, hip-hop, and R&B
Category 4:
  • These resemble familiar directional words
  • Something small has been altered
  • The meanings feel “off” at first glance
  • Focus on spelling, not orientation

NYT Connections Answers: 09 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.