Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Picture their usual colour, rather than their purpose.
Show one word
3 BALL belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
THINGS THAT ARE RED
Reveal all four words
- 3 BALL
- CARDINAL
- HEART EMOJI
- SOLO CUP
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #943
hints & answers for January 9, 2026
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#943
This reference always shows January 9, 2026. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-character clue
Look for four entries beginning with 8, D, L and T. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
8 BALL belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
USED IN METAPHORS FOR PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS
Reveal all four words
- 8 BALL
- DEEP END
- LIMB
- THIN ICE
Blue group
More challenging
First-character clue
Look for four entries beginning with 6, C, D and N. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
6 MAFIA belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
MUSICAL ARTISTS MINUS STARTING NUMBERS
Reveal all four words
- 6 MAFIA
- CHAINZ
- DIRECTION
- NON BLONDES
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, F, L and O. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
COUTH belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
Reveal all four words
- COUTH
- FORTH
- LEST
- OAST
Show categories only
- Yellow: THINGS THAT ARE RED
- Green: USED IN METAPHORS FOR PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS
- Blue: MUSICAL ARTISTS MINUS STARTING NUMBERS
- Purple: CARDINAL DIRECTIONS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
THINGS THAT ARE RED
3 BALL · CARDINAL · HEART EMOJI · SOLO CUP
Green
USED IN METAPHORS FOR PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS
8 BALL · DEEP END · LIMB · THIN ICE
Blue
MUSICAL ARTISTS MINUS STARTING NUMBERS
6 MAFIA · CHAINZ · DIRECTION · NON BLONDES
Purple
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
COUTH · FORTH · LEST · OAST
This puzzle’s recorded solution
The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.
Continue from this date
About the answers and hints
Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.
Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.
The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.