Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #959 hints and answers for Sunday, January 25, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #959 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

ACT AS A BACKUP

COVER · FILL IN · SUB · TEMP

Group 2 - Green

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

PC KEYBOARD KEYS

ALT · ENTER · MENU · WINDOWS

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: These four belong together for one clean reason. If two of them pair up in your head first, let the other two confirm it.

PASTA SHAPES

BOWTIE · RIBBON · SHELL · TUBE

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

SUFFIXES

ATE · DOM · HOOD · SHIP

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "The straight and narrow"