NYT Connections Today: Hints and Answers for January 23, 2026

Happy Friday, puzzle fans! If you’re like me, you probably started your morning with a cup of coffee and the latest grid from Wyna Liu. Today’s puzzle, identified as #1007, offers a satisfying mix of anatomy, city living, and some old-school measurements.

While some of the categories seem straightforward at first glance, there are a few red herrings designed to make you second-guess your clicks. If you’re feeling a bit stuck, don't worry—I’ve broken down the NYT Connections hint and the full answer for 2026-01-23 below.

Hints for Today’s Categories

Before we jump into the full reveal, here are some nudges to help you solve the grid on your own:

• Yellow Category: Think about the person looking back at you in the mirror.
• Green Category: These are all related to where or how you might leave your car in a busy city.
• Blue Category: These are measurements, though they aren't all measuring the same thing (length, weight, and volume are all represented).
• Purple Category: These words all share a common partner that comes right after them.

Yellow: FACIAL FEATURES

The simplest category today focused on human anatomy. Most of these were easy to spot, though "Temple" can sometimes be confused with buildings or "Sole" (if there were a shoe category).

• CHEEK
• EYE
• LIP
• TEMPLE

Why they fit: All four are specific parts of the human face or head.

Green: KINDS OF PARKING

If you live in a big city, this category likely jumped out at you immediately. It covers the various ways and locations where vehicles are stored.

• GARAGE
• METER
• STREET
• VALET

Why they fit: Each word describes a specific type or method of parking (e.g., "Street parking" or "Valet parking").

Blue: IMPERIAL UNITS

This category was a bit more technical. While "Foot" is a common unit of length, some of the others might be less familiar depending on where you live.

• ACRE (Area)
• BUSHEL (Dry volume, often used in agriculture)
• FOOT (Length)
• STONE (A British unit of weight equal to 14 pounds)

Why they fit: These are all units within the Imperial system of measurement.

Purple: WORDS BEFORE "LIGHT"

As is tradition, the Purple category is the most "clever" of the bunch. Today, we’re looking for words that can precede a specific word to create common compound terms.

• FLOOD (Floodlight)
• LIME (Limelight)
• PILOT (Pilot light)
• TRAFFIC (Traffic light)

Why they fit: When you add the word LIGHT to the end of each, you get a completely new, recognizable term. "Limelight" refers to the center of attention, while a "Pilot light" is the small flame that keeps your furnace or stove ready to go.

Summary of the Answer for 2026-01-23

In case you just want the quick list to check your work, here is the full solution:

• FACIAL FEATURES: Cheek, Eye, Lip, Temple
• KINDS OF PARKING: Garage, Meter, Street, Valet
• IMPERIAL UNITS: Acre, Bushel, Foot, Stone
• WORDS BEFORE "LIGHT": Flood, Lime, Pilot, Traffic

Today's puzzle had a nice flow to it. The trickiest part was likely the word STONE, which many Americans might not immediately recognize as a unit of weight, and TEMPLE, which could have easily been a distraction if there were words related to architecture or religion.

How did you do? Did you find the Purple category first, or did the Imperial Units give you a run for your money?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play NYT Connections?

The goal is to find four groups of four words that share a common theme. Select four words and tap "Submit." You have four lives, and each incorrect guess costs one life.

What do the colors mean in Connections?

The colors represent the difficulty level:

• Yellow: The most straightforward.
• Green: Relatively easy, but might have some overlap.
• Blue: More abstract or specialized knowledge.
• Purple: The trickiest, often involving wordplay or "blank" words.

When does the NYT Connections puzzle reset?

New puzzles are released daily at midnight local time. If you’re using the app, it should update automatically based on your time zone.