NYT Connections today — my hints and answers for Thursday, January 2 (game #571)

Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

  • TIME
  • CLOCK
  • DONUT
  • PADDLE
  • TIRED
  • MONTH
  • BEAT
  • REGISTER
  • CATCH
  • TAG
  • INCH
  • DAYS
  • METER
  • JUROR
  • NOTICE
  • RHYTHM

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: Observation
  • GREEN: Tempo
  • BLUE: They come in dozens
  • PURPLE: Add an animal

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: PERCEIVE 
  • GREEN: CADENCE
  • BLUE: ONE IN A GROUP OF TWELVE 
  • PURPLE: DOG __ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

The answers to today’s Connections, game #571, are…

  • YELLOW: PERCEIVE CATCH, CLOCK, NOTICE, REGISTER
  • GREEN: CADENCE BEAT, METER, RHYTHM, TIME
  • BLUE: ONE IN A GROUP OF TWELVE DONUT, INCH, JUROR, MONTH
  • PURPLE: DOG __ DAYS, PADDLE, TAG, TIRED

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 1 mistake

I took a guess today that BEAT, METER, RHYTHM and TIME were a group, thinking that drumming was the connection and so it proved.

Despite being slow on the uptake, I landed the Yellow group next and was happy to have sidestepped the TIME, CLOCK, DAYS trap.

There was no brushing off imaginary dust from my shoulders, though, as I failed to see both ONE IN A GROUP OF TWELVE and DOG __ and got home through the sheer luck of shuffling the remain eight words until I got a quartet that looked kind of OK.

When it comes to Connections I’ll take any win I can get.


  • YELLOW: SLIMY ANIMALS EARTHWORM, EEL, SALAMANDER, SLUG
  • GREEN: THINGS THAT LUMINESCE AURORA, FIREFLY, GLOWSTICK, RADIUM
  • BLUE: DUTCH SYMBOLS CANAL, CLOG, TULIP, WINDMILL
  • PURPLE: ENDING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “PLUNGE” GATECRASH, RAINDROP, SKYDIVE, WATERFALL

Related posts

Flow causes huge upset at 2025 Golden Globes as Latvian indie movie beats Inside Out 2 and Moana 2 to win best animated film award

Surface Laptop’s audio could get even better in the future thanks to a clever twist – a speaker built into the touchpad

Atos now says its systems weren’t hit by a ransomware attack after all

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Read More