NYT Connections Answers: January 9, 2026

Puzzle #998 — Editor: Wyna Liu

All 4 Groups

🟨 Yellow — Easiest
THINGS THAT ARE RED
3 BALL, CARDINAL, HEART EMOJI, SOLO CUP
🟩 Green
USED IN METAPHORS FOR PRECARIOUS SITUATIONS
8 BALL, DEEP END, LIMB, THIN ICE
🟦 Blue
MUSICAL ARTISTS MINUS STARTING NUMBERS
6 MAFIA, CHAINZ, DIRECTION, NON BLONDES
🟪 Purple — Hardest
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED
COUTH, FORTH, LEST, OAST

Word Grid

All 16 words from puzzle #998:

3 BALL
CARDINAL
HEART EMOJI
SOLO CUP
8 BALL
DEEP END
LIMB
THIN ICE
6 MAFIA
CHAINZ
DIRECTION
NON BLONDES
COUTH
FORTH
LEST
OAST
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