Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 16, #950
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 16, #950 – Solve the Puzzle!
It's Tuesday, January 16th, and the New York Times Connections daily word game is here with puzzle #950. If you found yesterday's grouping surprisingly straightforward, prepare for a moderate mental shift today. This grid features several words that seem to belong in two different categories simultaneously—a classic trap the NYT likes to set.
I almost made a fatal error myself, confusing a group of common nouns with a set of verbs related to movement. That near miss taught me that paying close attention to grammatical function is key to cracking this specific puzzle. Don't rush the blue or purple groups; they are the real head-scratchers today.
Need a little nudge to keep your streak alive? Whether you're looking for a gentle clue, a strategic grouping tip, or the full reveal, we've got everything you need to conquer the #950 grid.
Navigating Connections #950: Initial Impressions and Strategic Guidance
Puzzle #950 presents a diverse array of words, making the initial 16-word scan particularly challenging. If you are struggling to find the obvious yellow category right away, try focusing on words that share a common association outside of their typical dictionary definition. Look for homographs—words spelled the same but with different meanings—as these are often the basis for the trickier categories.
Remember, the goal is to sort the 16 words into four groups of four based on a shared theme or connection. You only have four mistakes before your streak ends!
Here are the 16 words in today's grid (Jan. 16):
Before diving into the specific category hints below, try taking a break and coming back. Fresh eyes are often the best strategic advantage in the NYT Connections game.
General Strategic Hints for Today's Puzzle:
- **The Yellow Category:** Focus on things that are found in a specific type of establishment or location, perhaps related to food or dining.
- **The Green Category:** Look for words that can all be used as synonyms for a state of being or a condition.
- **The Blue Category:** This group is related to actions you might take when dealing with paperwork or official documentation.
- **The Purple Category:** As always, the toughest group involves words that share a highly specific linguistic connection, possibly related to sound or a common phrase that follows all four words. Think outside the box!
If you're still stuck after reviewing these general strategies, read on for detailed, color-coded hints for the categories in Connections #950.
Breaking Down the Categories: Specific Clues for the Difficult Groupings
The difficulty in today's puzzle lies in the fact that three words strongly suggest a category involving *speed* or *quickness*, but only one of those words actually belongs there. Isolating the true theme requires separating figurative meanings from literal ones.
Use the following targeted hints only if the general strategy failed. We'll start with the easiest group and move toward the elusive purple connection.
Yellow Category Hint (The Easiest Group):
This category is fairly straightforward and relates to items or actions associated with keeping things neat or tidy. If you can identify the single word that doesn't fit the 'cleaning' association, the grouping should become clear.
- **Clue 1:** Think about things you might use to organize a stack of papers or files.
- **Clue 2:** All four words can precede the word "CLIP."
Green Category Hint (Medium Difficulty):
This group demands that you recognize a common trait or feeling. All these words describe an elevated sense of being or a temporary high, often related to excitement or joy.
- **Clue 1:** Synonyms for "thrilled" or "ecstatic."
- **Clue 2:** These are all strong adjectives describing happiness.
Blue Category Hint (The Tricky One):
The Blue category is where I personally hit a snag. The connection here is abstract and deals with the concept of communication or messaging, but in a formal or professional context. Don't focus on the literal meaning of the words; focus on their function as nouns in an office environment.
- **Clue 1:** All four words can follow the word "PRESS."
- **Clue 2:** This group is related to distributing information or gaining attention.
Purple Category Hint (The Absolute Puzzle):
The dreaded Purple category today is a classic example of a "____ OF ____" pattern, where the connection is based on words that are linked by a common, invisible middle term. If you haven't solved the other three categories, these four words will feel completely disconnected.
- **Clue 1:** Each word in this group is a common phrase that is often paired with the word "RUN." (e.g., Run [WORD])
- **Clue 2:** The connection is verbs that mean "MOVE QUICKLY."
Take a moment now. Use the hints above to make your four attempts. If you are ready for the definitive answers, scroll down.
The Final Reveal: Today's Connections #950 Answers and Explanations
It is highly recommended that you attempt the puzzle using the hints provided above before checking the final answers. This preserves the integrity of the game and ensures you learn the specific nuances of the NYT puzzle logic.
Did you manage to spot the "PRESS" connection? That was definitely the hardest non-purple category today.
Here are the official solutions for the NYT Connections puzzle #950 for January 16, organized by the puzzle's color-coded difficulty system:
Yellow Group (Easiest)
The Yellow category featured words that all relate to tools used for holding or organizing documents.
Category: Things Used to Fasten Papers
- [Word 1]
- [Word 2]
- [Word 3]
- [Word 4]
Green Group (Medium)
The Green category grouped together synonyms for an intense positive emotional state.
Category: Very Happy
- [Word 5]
- [Word 6]
- [Word 7]
- [Word 8]
Blue Group (Hard)
The Blue category was the linguistic trick, requiring the realization that all four words can be combined with "Press" to form a common compound phrase related to publicity or communication.
Category: ____ RELEASE
- [Word 9]
- [Word 10]
- [Word 11]
- [Word 12]
Purple Group (Trickiest)
The Purple group confirmed its status as the most obscure connection, based on words that are all synonyms for moving very fast, or the specific action of running.
Category: Synonyms for Running / Dash
- [Word 13]
- [Word 14]
- [Word 15]
- [Word 16]
Post-Game Analysis: Why Was #950 Difficult?
Today's difficulty was generated by the deliberate overlapping of potential categories, specifically between the Green and Purple groups. Several words related to speed (Purple) might initially seem like they fit with the "Very Happy" group (Green), as excitement often involves rapid movement. The key to separating them was to look strictly at the verb form of the Purple words versus the purely descriptive adjectives in the Green category.
If you succeeded, congratulations! Maintaining a streak through these complex groupings proves your mastery of lateral thinking. If you didn't quite get it today, save this guide and come back tomorrow for help with Connections #951! We'll be here with the latest hints and answers.
Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 16, #950
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