NYT Connections Hints, Answers for January 29, 2026 (#963)

Stuck on the New York Times Connections puzzle for Thursday, January 29? This guide has everything you need: progressive hints (from easy to tricky), category explanations, all 16 words grouped correctly, spoiler-free tips, and the complete answers to help you solve it fast and maintain your streak.

NYT Connections #963 is a clever mix of straightforward themes and wordplay twists—one category draws from a beloved children’s tale, while the purple group relies on sound-alike tricks that might stump even veteran solvers.

Today’s NYT Connections Hints (Progressive Difficulty)

Ranked from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple), as per the game’s scaling:

• Yellow hint — Maybe it’s Maybelline. (Or: Face paint / Cosmetics)
• Green hint — Too hot, too cold, just right. (Or: A popular children’s story / Fairy tale elements)
• Blue hint — Raise a cup. (Or: Ending with drinking vessels / Words that finish with glass/mug/etc.)
• Purple hint — They all sound like words with a similar meaning. (Or: Homophones of words meaning “brutal” / Sound-alike for harsh/violent terms)

One-word reveals (safe to peek if stuck on one group):

• Yellow: STAIN
• Green: BED
• Blue: FIBERGLASS
• Purple: GRIMM

Today’s NYT Connections Answers & Categories

🟨 Yellow: Makeup BRONZER, FOUNDATION, LINER, STAIN (These are all types of cosmetic products.)

🟩 Green: Featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears BEAR, BED, GOLDILOCKS, PORRIDGE (Key elements from the classic fairy tale: the bears, their beds, the girl, and the food she eats.)

🟦 Blue: Ending with drinking vessels FIBERGLASS, SILVERSTEIN, SMUG, STUMBLER (Each word ends with a container for drinking: glass, stein, mug, tumbler.)

🟪 Purple: Homophones of words meaning “brutal” GOREY, GRIMM, GRIZZLY, SCARRY (These sound like “gory,” “grim,” “grizzly” (as in ferocious bear), and “scary” — all evoking brutality or harshness. Note: Edward Gorey, Brothers Grimm, and Shel Silverstein appear as red herrings/author names elsewhere, but purple focuses on the sound-alike brutality theme.)

Quick Solve Tips & Strategy

• Start with yellow—cosmetics are usually the most obvious cluster.
• Green pops once you spot fairy-tale words like PORRIDGE or GOLDILOCKS.
• Blue is a suffix/word-end trick: look for -GLASS, -STEIN, -MUG, -TUMBLER endings.
• Purple is the trickiest—listen for homophones of violent/scary terms; the author names (Gorey/Grimm/Scarry) are misdirection.
• Avoid mixing up GRIZZLY (bear in the story) with the purple group.
• Use the “one away” feedback wisely if you’re close on a group.

FAQ: Common Questions About NYT Connections #963 (Jan 29, 2026)

Q: What is the purple category in Connections today? A: Homophones of words meaning “brutal” — GOREY (gory), GRIMM (grim), GRIZZLY (grizzly/ferocious), SCARRY (scary).

Q: Why do author names like GRIMM, GOREY, and SCARRY appear? A: They’re red herrings to tempt “author surnames” guesses, but the actual purple link is phonetic (sounding like brutal concepts). Silverstein is in blue instead.

Q: Is today’s Connections easy or hard? A: Medium overall—yellow and green are straightforward, blue requires spotting suffixes, and purple is the “bizarre” wordplay that trips people up.

Q: Where can I play today’s Connections? A: Directly on the New York Times Games app/site (nytimes.com/games/connections). Track your stats, win streak, and perfect games there.

Q: Any tips for perfect scores? A: Solve yellow/green first to reduce noise, then tackle blue’s endings, saving purple for last. Check the official NYT companion for discussion after playing.

Good luck, and happy connecting! Share your solve (mistakes and all) in the comments if you’d like. For more daily help, check our guides for Wordle, Strands, Mini Crossword, and Connections: Sports Edition.