Cracked! Your Ultimate Guide to Today's NYT Connections Puzzle (Jan. 10th)

Ah, the New York Times Connections. It's become that delightful, or sometimes utterly infuriating, daily ritual, hasn't it? Just when you think you've got a handle on its subtle wordplay and clever misdirection, along comes a puzzle that makes you stare blankly at the screen, four mistakes piling up faster than laundry. Today, January 10th, might just be one of those days for many of us.

Let's be real: Connections is a deceptively simple game. You've got 16 words, and your task is to find four groups of four words that share a common, often elusive, thread. The categories range from wonderfully obvious to downright diabolical, with plenty of red herring words thrown in just to mess with your head. It’s a true test of lateral thinking, and sometimes, you just need a little nudge in the right direction.

Before we dive into today's specific brain-teasers, a quick strategy refresh never hurts, right? Always start by looking for the most obvious connections first. Sometimes a group just screams out at you. If nothing immediately jumps out, try to categorize words by their parts of speech, their sounds, or even how they might be used in common phrases. And for goodness sake, don't be afraid to shuffle those words around! A change of perspective can do wonders.

Alright, for those of you wrestling with the January 10th puzzle, know you're not alone. This one had some truly cunning overlaps, the kind that make you question everything you thought you knew about words. But fear not, we're here to help you unravel the mystery. Let's start with some gentle nudges, shall we?

General Hints for Today's Puzzle (Jan. 10):

If you're looking for the easiest path to victory, start by thinking about common verbs or prepositions. There's a category hiding in plain sight that ties directly into how words can be modified by a tiny, but powerful, two-letter word. It's all about how these words might pair with something. For another group, consider everyday objects around your house or even parts of your body that often have a distinct 'front'. These aren't necessarily living things, but we often describe them as having this feature.

Moving into the trickier territory, one category revolves around actions or items that involve a certain kind of physical force – specifically, a 'pressing' action. Think about things you might manipulate with your hands, or items that undergo this process to be created or prepared. Finally, for the toughest one, if you're a sports fan, especially basketball, you might have an edge. This group consists of words that, when put together, represent some truly iconic names in professional sports, even if one of them is a little more abstract or perhaps even magical.

More Specific Category Hints:

• Yellow (Easiest): Focus on words that can directly precede or follow the word "UP." Think about actions or states.
• Green (Medium): Consider inanimate objects that, by convention or design, are said to possess a "face."
• Blue (Harder): These words relate to things that can be flattened, ironed, or squeezed, or actions that involve putting pressure on something.
• Purple (Trickiest): Look for names that sound like or are actual professional basketball teams.

Still stumped? No worries at all! Sometimes you just need to see the answers to appreciate the genius (or infuriating trickiness) of the puzzle setters. Here are the full solutions for today's NYT Connections puzzle. Don't peek if you're not ready!

SPOILER ALERT: Today's NYT Connections Answers (Jan. 10th)

Here are the four categories and the words that belong to each one:

Yellow Category: Words with "UP"

• CUP
• LIFT
• SHOOT
• BRASS

Green Category: Things with Faces

• CLOCK
• BOOK
• ROCK
• PHONE

Blue Category: Things that are Pressed

• RECORD
• SHIRT
• SQUEEZE
• PANT

Purple Category: Names of NBA Teams

• HEAT
• JAZZ
• BULL
• MAGIC

How did you do? Hopefully, these hints and answers helped you conquer today's Connections. Whether you breezed through it, struggled a bit, or needed a full reveal, there's always tomorrow's puzzle waiting to challenge us anew. Keep those word-sleuthing skills sharp!