Yellow group — QUITE THE LAUGH
Why is “CUTUP” in the Yellow group?
a person who is amusing or entertaining, often in a witty or sarcastic way
Connections Hints for January 27, 2026 #960
Pro tip: Tap each section to reveal answers one at a time. If you just need a gentle hint, get the connection hint for January 27, 2026 #960
Want to see NYT Connections hints? Below you'll find complete solutions and explanations. Want to try solving it yourself first? Visit the NYT Connections game 2026-01-27. Looking for today's NYT Connections hint? Head to our home page or play today's connection game here.
Navigation tip: Use the arrows below to browse through past puzzles. Each puzzle is organized from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple) categories.
Yellow Category — January 27, 2026
Green Category — January 27, 2026
Blue Category — January 27, 2026
Purple Category — January 27, 2026
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Green group — FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
Why is “FRIAR” in the Green group?
a member of a Christian order of monks, often depicted as a wise and compassionate figure
Word definitions
Tricky words in today's Connections (January 27, 2026)
Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.
- CARD
- Definition: a playing card, especially one used for identification
- Why it's tricky: can refer to various types of cards, including credit cards or greeting cards
- CUTUP
- Definition: a person who is amusing or entertaining
- Why it's tricky: can also mean to divide or cut something into pieces
- FLYER
- Definition: a type of bird or a person who flies an aircraft
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to a printed advertisement or a person who distributes them
- RANGER
- Definition: a person who is responsible for managing and protecting a park or forest
- Why it's tricky: can also refer to a type of military unit or a character in a fantasy story
Connections #960 explained
Why these words connect (January 27, 2026)
Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.
Yellow group: QUITE THE LAUGH
These words are all related to comedy or humor, including a playing card, a character, a witty person, and a jokester.
Green group: NHL TEAM MEMBER
These words are all names of teams in the National Hockey League, including the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New York Rangers.
Blue group: FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
These words are all first names or titles of characters from the Robin Hood stories, including Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, Robin Hood, and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Purple group: STARTING WITH BASEBALL GEAR
These words are all related to baseball, including a ballroom dance, a basement, a bat-shaped vehicle, and a capstone, which is a type of stone used in baseball fields.
Red herrings and trap words explained
These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.
“JOKER”
Seems like it belongs to: NHL TEAM MEMBER
Actually belongs to: QUITE THE LAUGH
The Joker is a playing card, but it's also a character in Batman, which might lead to confusion with the NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, whose mascot is the Devil, not the Joker.
“RANGER”
Seems like it belongs to: FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
Actually belongs to: NHL TEAM MEMBER
The Texas Rangers are a baseball team, but the word 'Ranger' might also evoke the character of the Ranger in Robin Hood, leading to confusion.
Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained
These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.
Why “JOKER” didn't go with NHL TEAM MEMBER
Seems like: NHL TEAM MEMBER → Actually: QUITE THE LAUGH
The Joker is a playing card, but it's also a character in Batman, which might lead to confusion with the NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, whose mascot is the Devil, not the Joker.
Why “RANGER” didn't go with FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES
Seems like: FIRST WORDS OF ROBIN HOOD CHARACTER NAMES → Actually: NHL TEAM MEMBER
The Texas Rangers are a baseball team, but the word 'Ranger' might also evoke the character of the Ranger in Robin Hood, leading to confusion.