You’ve woken up, grabbed your coffee, and opened the New York Times Games app only to stare at a grid of 16 words that make absolutely zero sense together. We’ve all been there. It’s Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and today’s NYT Connections hints jan 6 are exactly what you need to keep your streak alive without throwing your phone across the room. Honestly, some of these "connections" feel like a reach, but once you see the pattern, you’ll wonder how you missed it.
Connections is that special kind of torture where Wyna Liu and the NYT team find words that seem like they belong in three different places. Today's puzzle (#940) is a classic example of "red herring" city. You’ve got words that look like they're about money, others that look like they're about being full, and a few that just seem to be hanging out with no friends.
Let's break down the hints so you can solve it yourself, or just skip to the answers if you’re over it.
Quick Hints for Today’s Categories
If you just want a nudge in the right direction without the full reveal, here is what you're looking for:
- Yellow: These are different names for where you might live. Think bachelor pad or a flat in London.
- Green: All these words describe a specific type of sound, specifically a voice that’s pleasant and deep.
- Blue: If you spend your weekends at a card table or a casino, these will look very familiar.
- Purple: This is a classic "fill in the blank" category. Put the same word after all of these to make a common phrase.
Why NYT Connections Hints Jan 6 are Tricky Today
The real problem with today’s grid is the crossover. Look at words like FLUSH, RICH, and DEEP. To a normal person, those are all ways to describe having a lot of money. If you try to group them, the game will tell you you're "one away," and you'll waste a guess.
In reality, FLUSH belongs with the poker hands, while RICH and DEEP are over in the "sonorous" voice category. It’s mean. It’s clever. It’s why we play this game.
The Yellow Group: Apartment
This is the most straightforward group today. It’s just synonyms for a living space. Nothing too crazy here, though "Quarters" might trip you up if you're thinking about coins.
- DIGS
- FLAT
- PAD
- QUARTERS
The Green Group: Sonorous
This is the "fancy" category. If someone has a "sonorous" voice, it means it’s deep, resonant, and clear.
- CLEAR
- DEEP
- FULL
- RICH
The Blue Group: Poker Hands, Familiarly
You don't need to be a pro to get this, but you do need to know a little slang. A "Boat" is a full house. "Quads" are four of a kind.
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- BOAT
- FLUSH
- QUADS
- STRAIGHT
The Purple Group: ____ Animal
Purple is always the hardest because it usually involves wordplay. Today, it’s all about things you can put the word "Animal" after. A "Party Animal," a "Stuffed Animal," etc. Once you see BALLOON and STUFFED together, it usually clicks.
- BALLOON
- PACK
- PARTY
- STUFFED
Actionable Strategy for Tomorrow
Don't let the red herrings win. The best way to beat Connections isn't to find four words that match; it's to find five words that match. If you find five, you know that category is a trap. You have to look for the outlier that fits better somewhere else.
For example, today, "FLUSH" could mean being rich (money) or it could be a poker hand. Since "BOAT" and "QUADS" have zero other meanings in this context, "FLUSH" must go with the poker hands.
If you're still struggling with the NYT Connections hints jan 6, try shuffling the board. Sometimes just seeing the words in a different physical order breaks the mental loop you're stuck in.
To keep your brain sharp for tomorrow's puzzle:
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- Identify the overlaps first. List the words that could belong to two categories.
- Solve the most specific group. Poker terms are more specific than "words for house," so start there.
- Save Purple for last. If you get the first three, Purple solves itself.
Good luck with your 2026 streak. Hopefully, tomorrow's grid is a little kinder to us all.