Finding the right links in the New York Times Connections puzzle can sometimes feel like trying to untangle a knotted ball of yarn. One wrong move and you’re back to square one. Today’s challenge, Puzzle #965, is no exception. It features a clever mix of household objects, social events, and a particularly tricky purple category that plays with various definitions of a single word.
If you’re looking to protect your winning streak without spoiling the fun immediately, we’ve broken down the hints from subtle nudges to the full reveal.
NYT Connections Hints for Jan 31, 2026
Before we give you the answers, here are some helpful clues to get your brain moving in the right direction for each color-coded group:
- 🟨 Yellow Category: Think about events where you might celebrate a milestone, meet new people, or enjoy some hors d’oeuvres.
- 🟩 Green Category: These are all items you would find in a garage or an art studio when someone is planning to change the color of a surface.
- 🟦 Blue Category: Look closely at the physical structure of these items. They all share a distinct branching shape, reminiscent of a specific letter of the alphabet.
- 🟪 Purple Category: This is the “wordplay” group. Each of these words can follow or be associated with the word “SHIFT.”
Today’s Connections Groups
If those hints weren’t quite enough to seal the deal, here are the official themes for today’s grid:
- Yellow: Kinds of Parties
- Green: Ways to Apply Paint
- Blue: Y-shaped Things
- Purple: What “Shift” Might Refer To
NYT Connections Answers for January 31, 2026
Here is the final solution for today’s puzzle. If you’re still playing and don’t want the answers revealed, stop scrolling now!
| Category | Difficulty | Words |
| 🟨 KINDS OF PARTIES | Easiest | BALL, MIXER, RECEPTION, SHOWER |
| 🟩 WAYS TO APPLY PAINT | Easy | BRUSH, PALETTE KNIFE, ROLLER, SPRAY CAN |
| 🟦 Y-SHAPED THINGS | Medium | SLINGSHOT, STETHOSCOPE, TUNING FORK, WISHBONE |
| 🟪 WHAT “SHIFT” MIGHT REFER TO | Hardest | COMPUTER KEY, DRESS, FLUCTUATION, WORK PERIOD |
Strategy Talk: Why was today tricky?
The biggest red herring today was likely “ROLLER” and “MIXER.” In a kitchen context, they might seem related, but in this grid, “Mixer” belongs to the social events (Yellow), while “Roller” belongs to the painting tools (Green). Additionally, seeing “DRESS” might make you think of clothing, but it only fits the logic when paired with “Shift” (a Shift Dress).
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