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The archived NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, January 2, 2026, is game #936. Want a nudge before the solution? Start with the spoiler-safe clues below; the full groups and all 16 answers follow the spoiler break.
Hints for the January 2 Connections puzzle
Use these category clues in order. They point toward the four connections without revealing the complete word sets.
- Get me a pen.
- Hokey.
- This is a level to meet.
- Garden produce, with a twist.
Spoilers: Connections answers for January 2, 2026
The four groups for puzzle #936 are:
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| WRITE | JOT, LOG, NOTE, RECORD |
| SHTICK | BIT, GAG, NUMBER, ROUTINE |
| BENCHMARK | BAR, EXAMPLE, METRIC, STANDARD |
| VEGETABLES MINUS STARTING LETTER | ALE, EEK, HIVE, QUASH |
How the purple group works
Each word is a vegetable name with its first letter removed: kale becomes ALE, leek becomes EEK, chive becomes HIVE, and squash becomes QUASH.
About this archived puzzle
Connections is a New York Times word game in which players sort 16 words into four groups of four by finding a shared connection. This answer guide concerns the January 2, 2026 puzzle, not the live puzzle on the current date. The dated answer guides from TechRadar, WordHint, and Parade identify it as #936 and agree on the groups above. TechRadar and ComingSoon describe access through the New York Times Games site or app; see ComingSoon’s January 2 guide for its coverage.
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