NYT Connections 23 January, 2026: NYT Connections has turned into one of the most engaging and intriguing New York Times everyday word puzzle games. You are not just required to think and solve what a single word may be, but instead try to associate and organize the given 16 different words under four different categories where all the words have some sort of relationship. This game tested and challenged our minds and increased our appetite for it!
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a word clustering type of puzzle created by The New York Times Games. Each day, gamers are presented with 16 words that should be grouped into four categories containing four words each. There is just one correct combination and hence, it is an exercise of reasoning.
- Each group has a difficulty level:
- Yellow – Easiest
- Green – Moderate
- Blue – Challenging
- Purple – Most Abstract
- The game resets daily at midnight.
- Players can only attempt each puzzle once per day.
How to Play NYT Connections
- Players view a 4×4 grid of 16 words.
- Identify four words that share a clear connection.
- Submit the group to lock it in.
- Incorrect guesses count as mistakes; up to four are allowed.
- Use the shuffle option to reveal hidden patterns.
- Solve all four groups to complete the puzzle.
Today’s Connections Words for 23 January (Friday)

- STONE
- TEMPLE
- PILOT
- LIP
- STREET
- CHEEK
- FOOT
- TRAFFIC
- EYE
- ACRE
- FLOOD
- METER
- GARAGE
- LIME
- BUSHEL
- VALET
Today’s Connections Hints for 23 January (Friday)
- Yellow: Facial features
- Green: Kinds of parking
- Blue: Imperial units
- Purple: Words that can precede “Light”
NYT Connections Answers for 23 January (#957)
- Yellow (Facial features): CHEEK, EYE, LIP, TEMPLE
- Green (Kinds of parking): GARAGE, METER, STREET, VALET
- Blue (Imperial units): ACRE, BUSHEL, FOOT, STONE
- Purple (Words before “Light”): FLOOD, LIME, PILOT, TRAFFIC

How Many Mistakes Are Allowed in NYT Connections?
The player is allowed a maximum of four wrong answers before the game ends and there is a small degree of leeway here for making experiments, but if you get too many wrong answers, you have to start again.
Is NYT Connections Free to Play?
Absolutely free of charge for Yes—NYT Connections, as it can be accessed for free on both the NYT Games site and NYT Games app. The daily puzzle is free to attempt, and no subscription is necessary for playing and tracking progress.