Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 15, #949
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 15, #949: Your Daily Puzzle Guide
The New York Times Games crew has delivered another tricky challenge with Connections puzzle #949 for January 15th. If you're anything like me, you woke up ready to dominate the daily puzzle, only to find yourself stuck between two seemingly identical groups, burning through your mistakes faster than a candle in a windstorm.
It was the Blue group that almost got me this morning. I spent a good five minutes trying to force a connection that simply wasn't there. That moment of frustration—where you have four words left, and they don't seem to relate at all—is exactly why we put together this guide. Connections is a test of lateral thinking, and sometimes, all you need is a subtle nudge to see the grid in a new light.
Whether you need a full breakdown of the categories or just a slight hint to avoid wasting a precious mistake, we've got you covered. This guide provides increasingly specific clues for the Jan. 15th puzzle, culminating in the complete answers for Connections #949. Let's conquer the grid.
The Strategy Session: General Hints for Connections #949
Before diving into the specific groups, let's talk strategy. Puzzle #949 is a classic example of misdirection. The NYT deliberately places words that fit multiple surface-level categories, creating decoys. Your first goal should always be to eliminate the most obvious, simplest four-word group—usually the Yellow category.
Today's puzzle relies heavily on synonyms that are slightly out of date, or words that can function as both a noun and a verb, with the connection hiding in the secondary meaning. Look for groups that involve acronyms, abbreviations, or words that sound alike but are spelled differently (homophones). The Purple group almost certainly requires a big jump in logic.
Remember the golden rule of the NYT word game: words that look like they belong together rarely do, especially if there are more than four of them. If you spot five words related to "Water," abandon that idea and look for a more niche commonality.
Here are three high-level hints that apply to the entire grid for January 15th:
- One category is built entirely around words that often precede the word "Side."
- Another category involves words used to describe a sudden, vertical movement downwards.
- Be wary of common kitchen items. They might be disguised as something else entirely.
If those general nudges were enough, stop reading now and go finish your attempt! If you need more targeted assistance, continue to the category-specific clues below.
Diving Deeper: Category-Specific Clues
The difficulty in Connections is standardized by color: Yellow (Easiest), Green (Medium), Blue (Hard), and Purple (Trickiest/Most Obscure). We will break down each group, providing progressively clearer hints.
Yellow Group (The Easiest Link)
The Yellow category today is relatively straightforward, focusing on common objects that share a simple, tangible shape or characteristic. Look for words that you might commonly refer to as a "unit" of something.
Hint 1: Think geometry and common packaging.
Hint 2: All four of these words are things that are often prepared or served in a neat, symmetrical shape.
Yellow Category Words (The Connection): ___ That Has Been Cut Into A Symmetrical Shape.
This group should be your starting point. Recognizing this group quickly frees up mental space and eliminates several common decoy words from the remaining pool of 12.
Green Group (Mid-Difficulty Overlap)
The Green group utilizes a classic Connections device: words that are prefixed or suffixed by an implied letter or term. Many solvers get stuck here because some of the words also slightly fit the Blue category's theme. Focus on the word's secondary, slang meaning rather than its primary definition.
Hint 1: These words are commonly used in pop culture or business to describe something secondary, less important, or a substitute.
Hint 2: Each word can be connected to the second letter of the alphabet.
Green Category Words (The Connection): Terms associated with the letter 'B'.
Once you see the pattern—like a "___ Side" or a "___ Movie"—the group snaps into focus. This is a common theme the puzzle designers return to, testing your knowledge of compound phrases.
Blue Group (The Tricky Synonyms)
The Blue category often requires understanding a narrow band of synonyms. For #949, the theme is about physical actions, specifically ones related to a sudden, immediate change in level. This group often fools people because they try to connect the words using their financial or metaphorical meanings (e.g., stock market terms) instead of their literal meanings.
Hint 1: Focus on water sports or sudden changes in temperature/level.
Hint 2: These four words are all highly specific synonyms for a steep, rapid decrease or immersion.
Blue Category Words (The Connection): Words for a Sudden Downward Movement.
I personally struggled with the word "PLUNGE" fitting here because I was mentally grouping it with words related to plumbing. But when viewed through the lens of a sudden movement or a deep submersion, the connection becomes clear. This group requires precision.
Purple Group (The Obscure Challenge)
The Purple category is designed to be the toughest. If you have solved the first three groups correctly, the remaining four words must form the Purple group. If they don't, you have a mistake elsewhere. Today's Purple group is an exemplary instance of lateral thinking, utilizing homophones (words that sound the same) for a bizarre and creative connection.
Hint 1: Do not look at the spelling. Read the words out loud. Who do they sound like?
Hint 2: The connection relies on words that are homophones of common names or places famous in pop culture or geography.
Purple Category Words (The Connection): Homophones of Common Names.
This group requires a significant mental leap. If you are stuck, say each word aloud repeatedly. Your brain might suddenly recognize the auditory pattern that links these disparate words together, proving that the solution sometimes lies outside the 20-word grid itself.
The Big Reveal: Today's NYT Connections Answers (Warning: Spoilers Ahead)
If you have exhausted your attempts or simply need the confirmation for your final guess, here are the complete, definitive answers for the NYT Connections puzzle #949, released on January 15th. Do not proceed unless you are ready for the spoiler.
***
Yellow Group (Easiest)
Category: Things Cut Into Cubes
- STEAK
- ICE
- SUGAR
- CHEESE
Green Group (Medium)
Category: Associated with the Letter 'B'
- MOVIE
- SIDE
- TEAM
- LIST
(The full connections are B-Movie, B-Side, B-Team, B-List.)
Blue Group (Hard)
Category: Sudden Descent
- DIP
- PLUNGE
- DIVE
- DROP
Purple Group (Trickiest)
Category: Homophones of US States
- RIDE
- ORREGAN
- MAINE
- SEE
(The full connections are: RIDE sounds like Rhode, ORREGAN sounds like Oregon, MAINE sounds like Maine, SEE sounds like C/Sea.)
***
Congratulations on tackling this challenging daily puzzle! Whether you solved it with zero mistakes or needed our help, every round of Connections strengthens your lexical and lateral thinking muscles.
Puzzle #949 was a masterclass in misdirection, particularly blending the synonym groups and forcing players to question the most basic meanings of words. If the Purple category gave you trouble, don't worry—homophone puzzles are universally considered the most difficult category in the game.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for the hints and answers for the next NYT Connections challenge. Happy grouping!
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 15, #949
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