NYT Connections #945: Hints and Solutions for January 11, 2026

The Sunday edition of NYT Connections arrives with puzzle #945, serving up a grid that rewards both practical knowledge and equestrian expertise. Today's challenge particularly favors those who can navigate between household fixtures and stable gear while spotting the subtle thematic connections.

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What Makes Connections Tick

For newcomers, NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be sorted into four thematic groups of four. The twist?

You're limited to four mistakes, and the color-coded difficulty system (yellow being easiest, purple being trickiest) means surface-level connections often mislead.

Since its June 2023 launch, Connections has carved out its niche in the Times' puzzle ecosystem, standing alongside Wordle and the crossword as a daily ritual for millions of players worldwide. The game's genius lies in its red herrings, words that could fit multiple categories but belong in only one.

Today's Grid at a Glance

Here are the 16 words staring back at you in puzzle #945:

HALTER | DRAIN | BIT | DROP
CROP | PACK | TANK | CREW
BASIN | CRATER | STOPPER | BAND
CRASH | SADDLE | TEAM | FAUCET

A seemingly random collection that somehow connects into four perfect categories spanning from bathroom fixtures to horseback riding equipment.

Strategic Hints (No Spoilers Yet)

Yellow Category Nudge: Think about different ways to describe organized collections of people or animals.

Green Category Clue: These words all describe dramatic downward movements or collapses.

Blue Category Hint: Look for components you'd find in a standard bathroom or kitchen installation.

Purple Category Teaser: This category requires knowledge of specialized equipment used in a particular sport or activity.

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The Full Solutions

Last chance to solve independently: answers below

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Yellow (Group): BAND, CREW, PACK, TEAM

These four words all describe organized collections of people or animals working together. Each term can refer to musical ensembles, work groups, or animal collectives, making this the most straightforward category for most solvers.

Green (Plunge): CRASH, CRATER, DROP, TANK

This category captures various forms of dramatic downward movement or collapse. "Crash" and "drop" are obvious, while "crater" suggests a sudden collapse or failure, and "tank" can mean to plummet or decline sharply in value or performance.

Blue (Parts of a Sink): BASIN, DRAIN, FAUCET, STOPPER

These are all components of a standard sink installation. The basin holds water, the drain carries it away, the faucet controls flow, and the stopper seals the drain - a practical category that rewards everyday household knowledge.

Purple (Equestrian Gear): BIT, CROP, HALTER, SADDLE

This specialized category requires knowledge of horseback riding equipment. The bit goes in the horse's mouth, the crop is a riding whip, the halter is a head collar, and the saddle is the seat for the rider - making this the trickiest category for non-equestrians.

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The Verdict

Puzzle #945 registers as moderate difficulty with a clear knowledge-based challenge. Yellow falls quickly for anyone who recognizes synonym clusters for groups, while green requires thinking about metaphorical and literal plunges.

Blue separates the practical homeowners from the casual observers. Purple, predictably, is the streak-ender - that equestrian gear category won't reveal itself without specific knowledge of horseback riding equipment.

The real trap lies in words like "crop" and "bit," which could easily mislead solvers into agricultural or computing categories. Similarly, "tank" and "drop" might suggest military or container themes, while "band" and "crew" could connect to music or maritime contexts before finding their proper homes.

Reset and Repeat

Tomorrow's puzzle drops at midnight in your timezone. Until then, reflect on today's performance: did the equestrian gear stump you, or did you navigate smoothly from sink parts to plunging metaphors?

The beauty lies not in perfection but in training your brain to spot these hidden patterns across diverse knowledge domains.

For now, puzzle #945 is solved. See you at midnight for round #946.

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