> At a Glance
> – Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (No. 942) features a candy-themed twist in the purple category
> – Players must identify candy bar brands hidden within longer words
> – The puzzle includes categories for emotions, rule-breaking, and simple machines
> – Why it matters: The daily word game challenges vocabulary and pattern recognition with clever themes
The January 8 NYT Connections puzzle delivers a sweet surprise for candy lovers while testing players’ knowledge of simple machines and emotional responses.
Puzzle Structure
The game organizes 16 words into four color-coded categories ranked by difficulty from yellow to purple. Today’s blue category focuses on first-class levers while purple requires spotting hidden candy bar names.
Today’s Categories
Yellow: Feel your feelings
- chill
- goosebump
- shiver
- tingle
Green: Break the rules
- jaywalk
- litter
- loiter
- speed
Blue: First-class levers
- clothespin
- crowbar
- scissors
- seesaw
Purple: Starting with candy bars
- aeroplane (Aero)
- dovetail (Dove)
- heathers (Heath)
- marsala (Mars)
Toughest Puzzles
The most challenging Connections puzzles have included:
- “Things you can set” (mood, record, table, volleyball)
- “One in a dozen” (egg, juror, month, rose)
- “Streets on screen” (Elm, Fear, Jump, Sesame)
- “Power ___” (nap, plant, Ranger, trip)
- “Things that can run” (candidate, faucet, mascara, nose)
Key Takeaways
- Purple category hides candy bar brands within longer words
- Blue category tests physics knowledge of simple machines
- Yellow and green categories focus on everyday concepts
- Puzzle No. 942 continues the daily challenge tradition
The Times’ Connections Bot now tracks player statistics including win rates and perfect scores for registered users.
