NYT Connections hints and answers for today (October 14, 2025)

If you’re struggling to solve today’s NYT Connections puzzle, don’t worry, you’re in the right place. The popular word association game from The New York Times has once again challenged players with its tricky categories.

Puzzle #856 for October 14, 2025, is rated fairly easy, but it still demands a sharp eye for patterns and connections. Below, you’ll find all the hints, categories, and today’s complete answers to help you master the game and keep your winning streak alive.

What is NYT Connections

NYT Connections is a daily word association game that features 16 words arranged in a 4x4 grid. The challenge is to group these words into four sets of related terms based on hidden connections.

Each category is colour-coded by difficulty, with Yellow being the easiest and Purple the hardest. The goal is to identify all four categories correctly before you run out of guesses. The game tests both logic and lateral thinking, making it one of the most addictive puzzles in The New York Times collection.

How to play NYT Connections

Playing NYT Connections is simple yet surprisingly tricky. You start with 16 random words and must find four groups of four words that share a common theme.

Each puzzle allows only four mistakes, so choose carefully.Think broadly: Some connections rely on wordplay or double meanings.Shuffle often: Mixing up the grid can help you see new relationships.Use hints wisely: Categories can range from synonyms and idioms to pop culture or puns.Once you’ve grouped all words correctly, the puzzle is complete, though getting there may take some trial and error.

Hints for today’s NYT Connections (October 14, 2025)

Here are the improved hints to guide you through today’s puzzle:

Here are the revealed categories for today’s puzzle:Yellow – CAPTIVATEGreen – SUMMARYBlue – HALTPurple – ANIMALS MINUS STARTING LETTER

NYT Connections answers for today

If you’re ready for the full solution, here are today’s Connections answers for puzzle #856:CAPTIVATE: ABSORB, ENGAGE, HOLD, OCCUPYSUMMARY: BRIEF, DIGEST, OUTLINE, REVIEWHALT: CHECK, CURB, STAUNCH, STEMANIMALS MINUS STARTING LETTER: ANTHER, EASEL, HARK, LAMA