A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #952
hints & answers for January 18, 2026

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows January 18, 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.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, F, W and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BILL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FEATURES OF A DUCK

Reveal all four words
  • BILL
  • FEATHERS
  • WEBBING
  • WINGS

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, D, T and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BREAK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DESTROY

Reveal all four words
  • BREAK
  • DAMAGE
  • TOTAL
  • WRECK

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, Q, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AUTHOR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FOUND ON A BOOK JACKET

Reveal all four words
  • AUTHOR
  • QUOTE
  • SYNOPSIS
  • TITLE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, G, P and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COOPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ACTORS

Reveal all four words
  • COOPER
  • GRANT
  • PECK
  • PRICE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: FEATURES OF A DUCK
  • Green: DESTROY
  • Blue: FOUND ON A BOOK JACKET
  • Purple: CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ACTORS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

FEATURES OF A DUCK

BILL · FEATHERS · WEBBING · WINGS

Green

DESTROY

BREAK · DAMAGE · TOTAL · WRECK

Blue

FOUND ON A BOOK JACKET

AUTHOR · QUOTE · SYNOPSIS · TITLE

Purple

CLASSIC HOLLYWOOD ACTORS

COOPER · GRANT · PECK · PRICE

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.

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.