Connections Hints

Monday, January 26, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — January 26, 2026

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

BADGE
BUFFALO
CLOSE
COW
DRAIN
FIELD
FLEECE
FOSTER
GOA
MILK
MOOS
RABBI
RATTLE
RUFFLE
SQUEEZE
WEAVER
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

EXPLOITStraightforward
DAUNTModerate
ICONIC ACTRESSESTricky
MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTERDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

EXPLOITStraightforward
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOMEONE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT+ 3 more…
DAUNTModerate
WORDS MEANING TO INTIMIDATE OR UNSETTLE SOMEONE+ 3 more…
ICONIC ACTRESSESTricky
FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES KNOWN BY THEIR LAST NAMES+ 3 more…
MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTERDevious
ANIMALS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR FINAL LETTER+ 3 more…
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Full solution
EXPLOITStraightforward
DRAIN,FLEECE,MILK,SQUEEZE

DRAIN, FLEECE, MILK, and SQUEEZE all mean to exploit or take maximum advantage of someone or something

DAUNTModerate
BUFFALO,COW,RATTLE,RUFFLE

BUFFALO, COW, RATTLE, and RUFFLE all mean to daunt, intimidate, or unsettle someone

ICONIC ACTRESSESTricky
CLOSE,FIELD,FOSTER,WEAVER

CLOSE (Glenn), FIELD (Sally), FOSTER (Jodie), and WEAVER (Sigourney) are all iconic Academy Award-winning or nominated actresses

MAMMALS MINUS LAST LETTERDevious
BADGE,GOA,MOOS,RABBI

BADGE(R), GOA(T), MOOS(E), and RABBI(T) are all mammals with the last letter removed

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