Need a nudge on NYT Connections #954? Start with the spoiler-light clues below, then open the progressively more specific hints. The complete groups and all 16 answers are farther down, behind a clear spoiler warning.
Gentle hints for Connections #954
- One group is about joining things closely.
- One is a set of striped-insect types.
- One concerns well-known ways across water.
- One group begins with words expressing a longing.
More specific hints
- Think of fingers or rope.
- These pollinators can be incredibly active.
- For this group, don’t look down.
- Consider how you might feel when you’re hangry.
All four group answers for January 20
Spoilers ahead: The categories and tiles below reveal the full solution.
- INTERTWINE: LACE, TWIST, WEAVE, WIND.
- KINDS OF BEES: BUMBLE, CARPENTER, HONEY, KILLER.
- FAMOUS BRIDGES: BROOKLYN, GOLDEN GATE, RIALTO, TOWER.
- STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “HANKER FOR”: CRAVEN, DESIREE, NEEDLE, WANTON.
Why the final group works
The last category is a wordplay clue: each tile starts with a synonym for “hanker for.” CRAVEN starts with CRAVE, DESIREE with DESIRE, NEEDLE with NEED, and WANTON with WANT. The complete tiles are not themselves the synonyms; it is their opening words that connect them.
How NYT Connections works
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four. The categories are color-coded from yellow, the easiest, through purple, the trickiest. The daily puzzle releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. NYT lists the Games app, Connections webpage, The Athletic site, and News app as places to play. See the NYT Help Center’s Connections guide for official rules and access details.
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Can you replay the January 20 puzzle?
Yes, it falls within the NYT Connections archive, which the Help Center says reaches back to June 12, 2023. The archive is available to All Access and Games subscribers; access terms can change, so check the official help page for current details. The January 20, 2026 puzzle is game #954.
Quick Recap
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