Need help with NYT Connections #936, the Friday, January 2, 2026 puzzle? Start with the spoiler-light nudges below; the category names and full word groups follow if you want the solution.
Spoiler-light hints for Connections #936
- Get me a pen.
- Hokey.
- This is a level to meet.
- Garden produce, with a twist.
Want a little more direction without seeing every answer? The groups concern recording information, a comic routine, a standard for comparison, and vegetables with their first letters removed.
Category names
- Yellow: WRITE
- Green: SHTICK
- Blue: BENCHMARK
- Purple: VEGETABLES MINUS STARTING LETTER
Full answers for January 2
| Group | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow — WRITE | JOT, LOG, NOTE, RECORD | Verbs for recording information. |
| Green — SHTICK | BIT, GAG, NUMBER, ROUTINE | Words for a comic act or routine. |
| Blue — BENCHMARK | BAR, EXAMPLE, METRIC, STANDARD | Measures or standards used for comparison. |
| Purple — VEGETABLES MINUS STARTING LETTER | ALE, EEK, HIVE, QUASH | Remove the opening letter from KALE, LEEK, CHIVE, and SQUASH. |
How Connections works
Connections presents 16 words and asks you to sort them into four groups of four based on a shared link. You submit a group as a guess; Try Hard Guides says players can make up to four mistakes. The trick in this puzzle’s purple group is to look beyond the displayed words and restore the missing first letter to find the vegetables.
Quick Recap
#1 Best Overall
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
