Connections Hints

Friday, January 30, 2026

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — January 30, 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.

AREA
BAND-AID
CLUSTER
COMB
COMPACT
HELPING
LINT ROLLER
MINUTE
NAIL FILE
PATCH
POCKET
POKER
STICKER
TAPE
TWEEZERS
UPPER
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Themes

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

REGIONStraightforward
GROOMING ITEMSModerate
THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACESTricky
___ HANDDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

REGIONStraightforward
WORDS MEANING A ZONE OR SECTION OF SOMETHING LARGER+ 3 more…
GROOMING ITEMSModerate
TOOLS YOU'D FIND IN A BEAUTY OR TOILETRY KIT+ 3 more…
THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACESTricky
THESE ALL HAVE A STICKY SIDE THAT CLINGS TO SURFACES+ 3 more…
___ HANDDevious
WORDS THAT PRECEDE 'HAND' TO MAKE A COMMON PHRASE+ 3 more…
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Full solution
REGIONStraightforward
AREA,CLUSTER,PATCH,POCKET

AREA, CLUSTER, PATCH, and POCKET all refer to a distinct region or section within a larger space.

GROOMING ITEMSModerate
COMB,COMPACT,NAIL FILE,TWEEZERS

COMB, COMPACT, NAIL FILE, and TWEEZERS are all personal grooming tools used for everyday hygiene and beauty routines.

THINGS WITH ADHESIVE SURFACESTricky
BAND-AID,LINT ROLLER,STICKER,TAPE

BAND-AID, LINT ROLLER, STICKER, and TAPE all feature adhesive surfaces designed to stick to things.

___ HANDDevious
HELPING,MINUTE,POKER,UPPER

HELPING, MINUTE, POKER, and UPPER each precede HAND to form common compound words or phrases: helping hand, minute hand, poker hand, upper hand.

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