Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #965 hints and answers for Saturday, January 31, 2026

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

Connections #965 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.

KINDS OF PARTIES

BALL · MIXER · RECEPTION · SHOWER

Group 2 - Green

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.

WAYS TO APPLY PAINT

BRUSH · PALETTE KNIFE · ROLLER · SPRAY CAN

Group 3 - Blue

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.

Y-SHAPED THINGS

SLINGSHOT · STETHOSCOPE · TUNING FORK · WISHBONE

Group 4 - Purple

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.

WHAT "SHIFT" MIGHT REFER TO

COMPUTER KEY · DRESS · FLUCTUATION · WORK PERIOD

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "It's part of the game"