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For Tuesday, January 27, 2026, NYT Connections puzzle No. 961, the completed groups are:
- QUITE THE LAUGH: CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, JOKER
- NHL TEAM MEMBER: DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, RANGER
- FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES: FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, SHERIFF
- STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR: BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, CAPSTONE
If you are still solving, stop before the next section for spoiler-controlled hints.
Hints for Connections No. 961
Connections gives you 16 words and asks you to divide them into four groups of four. The groups range from yellow, the most approachable, to purple, the most difficult. You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends.
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Yellow hint
Think of words that can describe a funny, amusing, mischievous, or entertaining person.
Green hint
These words can refer to a player or member of an NHL team. Think of singular forms associated with team names.
Blue hint
Look for the opening words in the names of Robin Hood and three familiar characters connected with him.
Purple hint
Look at the beginnings of longer words. Each beginning is related to baseball equipment or terminology.
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Today’s 16 Connections words
The grid for No. 961 contains:
BATMOBILE, FRIAR, CARD, ROBIN, JOKER, BASEMENT, PENGUIN, CHARACTER, SHERIFF, DEVIL, CAPSTONE, FLYER, RANGER, MAID, BALLROOM, CUTUP
Spoilers below: The complete categories and explanations for the January 27, 2026, Connections puzzle appear next.
NYT Connections answers for January 27, 2026
Yellow: QUITE THE LAUGH
CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, JOKER
All four words can describe someone who is funny, entertaining, playful, or mischievous. “Joker” is the most direct entry. “Card” and “cutup” are less obvious: in these senses, they mean a person who behaves humorously or likes to make people laugh. “Character” can likewise describe an amusing or eccentric person.
Green: NHL TEAM MEMBER
DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, RANGER
These are singular forms drawn from NHL team names: the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers. The category is not describing hockey equipment or playing styles; it uses the words as shorthand for members of those teams.
Blue: FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, SHERIFF
Each word begins a familiar Robin Hood-related name or title:
- Friar Tuck
- Maid Marian
- Robin Hood
- the Sheriff of Nottingham
The trick is that these are the first words of the names, rather than four words that independently mean the same thing.
Purple: STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR
BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, CAPSTONE
These answers begin with baseball-related words or terms:
- BALLroom
- BASEment
- BATmobile
- CAPstone
The full words are not baseball terms. The category works through their prefixes: ball, base, bat, and cap. That construction makes this the hardest group to spot without first removing the more tempting alternatives.
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BATMOBILE, ROBIN, JOKER, and PENGUIN appear to form a Batman group. It is a deliberate-looking decoy, but it is not an accepted category in this puzzle.
Instead, BATMOBILE belongs in the purple prefix group because it starts with BAT. ROBIN goes with the Robin Hood names, JOKER describes a funny person, and PENGUIN points to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Connections often rewards checking whether a seemingly perfect theme accounts for all four words in the intended way; here, the Batman idea does not survive that test.
A practical way to solve this grid
- Start with the most recognizable wordplay group. BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, and CAPSTONE reveal BALL, BASE, BAT, and CAP at their beginnings.
- Next, collect DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, and RANGER as singular forms of NHL team names.
- With those removed, FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, and SHERIFF point to Robin Hood characters and titles.
- The four remaining words—CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, and JOKER—complete the “quite the laugh” group.
This order is not required, but it helps avoid spending a guess on the Batman decoy.
Want more puzzles?
If you enjoy Connections and want something away from the daily screen, NYT Connections puzzle book is a useful search starting point for Puzzle Mania!: Wordle, Connections, Spelling Bee, Minis and More! The 224-page hardcover is a broader New York Times Games collection with new spins on several digital games, including Connections-inspired puzzles. It should not be confused with the live daily game or with a book reproducing this exact No. 961 grid. Check the retailer listing for current availability and edition details.
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January 27 date clarification
This answer guide is for January 27, 2026, puzzle No. 961. January 27, 2025 was a different Connections puzzle with a different number and different answers, so make sure the date and puzzle number match the grid you are playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the yellow group in Connections No. 961?
The four yellow answers are CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, and JOKER. Each can describe a funny, entertaining, or mischievous person.
What is the NHL group in Connections No. 961?
DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, and RANGER. They refer to singular forms associated with the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers.
What is the Robin Hood group in Connections No. 961?
FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, and SHERIFF. They begin familiar names or titles including Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, Robin Hood, and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
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BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, and CAPSTONE. They begin with BALL, BASE, BAT, and CAP, which are related to baseball equipment or terminology.
Is Batman a category in this Connections puzzle?
No. The Batman-looking combination is a red herring. BATMOBILE belongs to the baseball-prefix group, ROBIN belongs to the Robin Hood group, JOKER describes a funny person, and PENGUIN refers to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Bottom Line
Connections No. 961 answers: CARD, CHARACTER, CUTUP, JOKER; DEVIL, FLYER, PENGUIN, RANGER; FRIAR, MAID, ROBIN, SHERIFF; and BALLROOM, BASEMENT, BATMOBILE, CAPSTONE.
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