Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #962 hints and answers for Wednesday, January 28, 2026

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

Connections #962 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: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

IMITATION

DUMMY · MOCK · PRETEND · SHAM

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.

CLEANING SUPPLIES

BUCKET · GLOVES · RAG · SOAP

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.

COMPONENTS OF A RECORD PLAYER

MOTOR · NEEDLE · PLATTER · TONEARM

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: The category name leaves a blank - each of these four words fills it to make a familiar phrase.

SPARE ___

ME · RIB · TIME · TIRE

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "Zen state"