For fans of The New York Times’ popular Connections puzzle, October 13, 2025, brings puzzle #854, offering a new set of sixteen words to sort. This well-liked word game asks players to find the hidden links between words, putting them into four different groups of four that share a common idea. Whether you’re trying to keep your perfect streak going or just need a little help to solve today’s special puzzle, this guide is here for you.
Below, you will find useful hints to help you figure things out, along with the full answers for today’s NYT Connections.
What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a popular daily word game from The New York Times. The objective of the game is to sort a grid of 16 seemingly unrelated words into four groups of four, based on hidden common associations.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works:
The grid: You are presented with 16 words in a 4×4 grid.
The goal: Your task is to identify four groups of four words that share a hidden connection or category.
Categories: These connections can be based on various things, such as synonyms, common phrases, linguistic patterns (e.g., words with only one vowel, words ending in a certain letter, Themes and Wordplay.
Difficulty: Each of the four categories is colour-coded by difficulty:
Yellow: Easiest
Green: Medium
Blue: Hard
Purple: Trickiest (often involves more abstract connections or wordplay)
How to play NYT connections:
Connections presents a grid of 16 words. Your objective is to identify four groups of four words that share a hidden connection.
Select Words: Click or tap on four words you believe belong together.
Submit Guess: Once you’ve chosen your four, hit the “Submit” button.
Correct Match: If correct, the words will vanish, revealing their category and color. (Yellow is the easiest, followed by Green, Blue, and Purple as the most challenging.)
Incorrect Match: A wrong guess counts as a mistake. You get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
Win: Solve all four groups to win the puzzle!
NYT Connections October 13, 2025 Hints:
Here are the categories and words for today’s puzzle, with subtle hints to help you deduce the connections:
Yellow Group Hint
Describe situations that could easily turn chaotic or problematic, often used as metaphors for trouble or unpredictability.
Green Group Hint
Think of common social activities or events found at a pub or bar, especially in the evenings.
Blue Group Hint
Consider phrases or expressions commonly said when someone leaves, typically with a sense of finality or relief.
Purple Group Hint
Focus on words or phrases that relate to the idea of cheating, trickery, or synonyms for “swindle,” possibly involving wordplay
NYT Connections October 13, 2025 Answers:
Yellow Group: Metaphors for Volatile Situations
CAN OF WORMS
HORNET’S NEST
MINEFIELD
PANDORA’S BOX
Green Group: Bar Activities
HAPPY HOUR
KARAOKE
LIVE MUSIC
TRIVIA NIGHT
Blue Group: Expressions After a Welcome Exit
ABOUT TIME
FINALLY
GOOD RIDDANCE
SAYONARA
Purple Group: Synonyms for Cheat or Swindler
AMERICAN HUSTLE
CON
GOLDEN FLEECE
LUCKY STIFF
Each group is organized by theme, with answers designed to test intuition around word associations and pop culture references.