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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe NYT Connections answer for today, Monday, January 26, 2026, is puzzle #960. The solution features four groups: words meaning EXPLOIT, words meaning DAUNT, surnames of ICONIC ACTRESSES, and MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER.
The NYT Connections answer for Monday, January 26, 2026, is puzzle #960. The four groups are EXPLOIT, DAUNT, ICONIC ACTRESSES, and MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER.
Spoiler warning: The complete solution appears below. Stop reading if you are still trying to solve the puzzle.
NYT Connections #960 answers for January 26, 2026
| Category | Words |
|---|---|
| EXPLOIT | DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, SQUEEZE |
| DAUNT | BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, RUFFLE |
| ICONIC ACTRESSES | CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, WEAVER |
| MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER | BADGE, GOA, MOOS, RABBI |
How each Connections group works
EXPLOIT: DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, SQUEEZE
Each word can describe extracting value from someone or something, often unfairly. A person can drain or milk a resource, while fleece and squeeze can mean taking advantage of someone financially or otherwise.
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DAUNT: BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, RUFFLE
These four words can be verbs meaning to intimidate, unsettle, or make someone nervous. To buffalo someone is to confuse or intimidate them; to cow someone is to frighten them into submission. Something can also rattle or ruffle a person, making them lose composure.
ICONIC ACTRESSES: CLOSE, FIELD, FOSTER, WEAVER
These are surnames of prominent actresses: Glenn Close, Sally Field, Jodie Foster, and Sigourney Weaver. The category uses last names rather than full names, which can make the words look like ordinary vocabulary entries.
Rank #2
MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER: BADGE, GOA, MOOS, RABBI
Add one final letter to each word and it becomes the name of a mammal:
- BADGE becomes BADGER.
- GOA becomes GOAT.
- MOOS becomes MOOSE.
- RABBI becomes RABBIT.
This is the puzzle’s most overt wordplay group: each entry is a mammal with its final letter removed.
What is NYT Connections?
Connections gives players 16 words and asks them to divide the words into four groups of four. Every group has a shared connection, but several words may appear to fit more than one category. That overlap is a central part of the challenge.
The categories are color-coded by difficulty: yellow is generally the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple, which is typically the trickiest. Players must identify all four groups before submitting their selections.
Rank #4
Connections is free to play. New York Times subscribers can also access the Connections archive. Archive play can affect some statistics, but it does not count toward a player’s daily streak. Once a puzzle has been completed, it cannot be replayed.
Want more Connections puzzles?
For readers who enjoy the daily game and want an offline option, the New York Times Connections puzzle book, Connections: Find the Common Threads in 100+ Puzzles of Wit and Wordplay, is planned as a hardcover collection from The New York Times Games and Wyna Liu. The publisher describes it as containing more than 100 puzzles and exclusive content, with publication listed for October 27, 2026. Retail availability and purchase options should be checked closer to publication; it is not being presented as a source of the January 26 daily solution.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NYT Connections answer for January 26, 2026?
The four groups in NYT Connections puzzle #960 are EXPLOIT, DAUNT, ICONIC ACTRESSES, and MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER.
What is the mammals-minus-last-letter group?
BADGE becomes BADGER, GOA becomes GOAT, MOOS becomes MOOSE, and RABBI becomes RABBIT when one final letter is added.
How does NYT Connections work?
Connections presents 16 words that must be divided into four groups of four. Yellow is generally easiest, while purple is generally most difficult.
The Bottom Line
NYT Connections #960, played on January 26, 2026, groups its words into EXPLOIT, DAUNT, ICONIC ACTRESSES, and MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTER. The key wordplay is BADGE → BADGER, GOA → GOAT, MOOS → MOOSE, and RABBI → RABBIT.
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