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NYT Connections puzzle #960, published January 26, 2026, groups the words under EXPLOIT, DAUNT, ICONIC ACTRESSES, and MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER. If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hints below before opening the full answer.
Hints for Connections #960
- Check whether some words work as verbs, not just as nouns.
- One group is about intimidating or unsettling someone.
- Look for four surnames shared by well-known actresses.
- In the last group, each entry is missing one final letter.
Full Connections answer for January 26, 2026
The complete board was FOSTER, COW, BADGE, MILK, RABBI, RATTLE, FIELD, MOOS, SQUEEZE, CLOSE, RUFFLE, FLEECE, WEAVER, DRAIN, GOA, and BUFFALO. The four groups are:
| Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| EXPLOIT | DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, SQUEEZE | Verbs meaning to exploit or extract value. |
| DAUNT | BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, RUFFLE | Verbs meaning to intimidate or unsettle. |
| ICONIC ACTRESSES | CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, WEAVER | Surnames of Glenn Close, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Sigourney Weaver. |
| MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER | BADGE, GOA, MOOS, RABBI | Restore one final letter to make BADGER, GOAT, MOOSE, and RABBIT. |
Why the tricky groups fit
EXPLOIT and DAUNT use figurative verb meanings
DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, and SQUEEZE can describe extracting money, effort, or other value from someone or something. BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, and RUFFLE can describe intimidating or disturbing someone. Several also have familiar animal or object readings, so focusing only on their most literal sense can lead toward a false grouping.
The actress group uses surnames
CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, and WEAVER are the surnames in the grid; the category points to Glenn Close, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Sigourney Weaver.
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The final-letter pattern resolves BADGE
BADGE can look as though it belongs with the intimidating verbs because “badger” means to pester or harass. In this puzzle, however, BADGE is BADGER without its final R. The same pattern yields GOAT from GOA, MOOSE from MOOS, and RABBIT from RABBI.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Connections works
Connections asks players to select four words that share a category and submit them as a group. The puzzle has four groups, arranged from easiest to trickiest, and players can make up to four mistakes, according to Try Hard Guides’ explanation of the game and its answers: Try Hard Guides’ Connections answers.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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