Connections hints and answers for January 28, 2026

Hints that get gradually more specific, then the answers if you need them. Nothing is revealed until you tap.

Puzzle#962
Words16
Groups4
EditorWyna Liu

Today’s Connections words

These are the 16 words in Connections #962. Try spotting one group before opening any hints.

RIBMOTORMOCKTIREPLATTERRAGNEEDLEGLOVESSHAMBUCKETPRETENDTIMESOAPDUMMYTONEARMME

Connections hints for January 28, 2026 (#962)

Open one hint at a time. Each is more specific than the last, so you can stop as soon as it clicks.

Yellow · Easiest
IMITATIONDUMMY · MOCK · PRETEND · SHAM
Green · Medium
CLEANING SUPPLIESBUCKET · GLOVES · RAG · SOAP
Blue · Hard
COMPONENTS OF A RECORD PLAYERMOTOR · NEEDLE · PLATTER · TONEARM
Purple · Hardest
SPARE ___ME · RIB · TIME · TIRE
Spoiler

Connections answers today

IMITATIONDUMMY · MOCK · PRETEND · SHAM
CLEANING SUPPLIESBUCKET · GLOVES · RAG · SOAP
COMPONENTS OF A RECORD PLAYERMOTOR · NEEDLE · PLATTER · TONEARM
SPARE ___ME · RIB · TIME · TIRE

How to solve Connections #962

Select four words you believe belong together and press Submit. If you are right, the group locks in at the top of the board with its category name. If you are wrong, you lose one of your four mistakes. A message saying "One away" means three of your four words are correct. Solve all four groups before you run out of mistakes to complete the puzzle. You can shuffle the board at any time, which often helps you see words in a new light.

Want the full method? Read our Connections strategy and tips, or check how to play Connections on the hub.

Connections tips for tomorrow

  • Find the red herring before you submit. If you can see five or six words that fit one category, that is a warning sign. Work out which extra word belongs elsewhere before using a guess.
  • Start with the group you are most sure of. Locking in one correct group removes four words from the board and makes the remaining links much easier to see.
  • Say the words out loud. Many purple groups depend on sound: homophones, rhymes, or words that become something else with a letter added. Reading aloud helps you catch them.

Done for today? Try Wordle, Strands, Pinpoint, all with hints first and answers behind a reveal.

Previous Connections puzzles

Connections FAQ

What are today’s Connections answers?+

Connections #962 groups are IMITATION, CLEANING SUPPLIES, COMPONENTS OF A RECORD PLAYER, SPARE ___. Open the reveal above to see every word.

What was the hardest group in Connections #962?+

The purple group, SPARE ___: ME, RIB, TIME, TIRE.

How many mistakes are allowed in Connections?+

Four. On the fourth wrong guess the game ends and the remaining groups are shown.

What time does the new Connections puzzle come out?+

A new puzzle is released every day at midnight in your local time zone. Our hints go live at 12:01 am Eastern Time.

Where can I find past Connections answers?+

Every past puzzle has its own page on GameAnswers.com with group-by-group hints first and the answers at the bottom. Click any date in the list above.

Today’s other puzzle answers

Connections guides