Word puzzle enthusiasts have another opportunity to test their skills as NYT Connections releases its daily word association challenge for Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Puzzle #856 invites players to group 16 words into four categories based on common connections. For those seeking assistance, here are today’s Connections hints and answers to guide solvers.

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a word association game created by The New York Times, inspired by the immense popularity of Wordle. Each puzzle presents 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid. Players must identify and group these words into four categories, with each category assigned a color: yellow, green, blue, or purple, indicating difficulty.

The game can be played for free on both desktop and mobile platforms, making it accessible for anyone seeking a quick mental challenge. Its combination of logic, deduction, and vocabulary continues to attract a dedicated following.

Hints for Today’s Connections Categories

Each Connections category comes with its own level of difficulty. For October 14, 2025, the Connections hints are as follows, as per a report by Beebom:

• Yellow Category Hint (Easiest) – Grab
• Green Category Hint – Rundown
• Blue Category Hint – Stop
• Purple Category Hint (Hardest) – Animals without their starting letter

These hints are designed to guide players toward forming logical word groups without revealing the full solution.

NYT Connections Answers for Today

For solvers who need the full answers, here are the solutions for today’s NYT Connections puzzle:

• Yellow – CAPTIVATE: ABSORB, ENGAGE, HOLD, OCCUPY
• Green – SUMMARY: BRIEF, DIGEST, OUTLINE, REVIEW
• Blue – HALT: CHECK, CURB, STAUNCH, STEM
• Purple – ANIMALS MINUS STARTING LETTER: ANTHER, EASEL, HARK, LAMA

These answers complete the grid and help maintain a streak for dedicated players.

Difficulty Level

According to player experience, today’s Connections puzzle is relatively simple, rated 1 out of 5 on a difficulty scale where 5 is the hardest. While subjective, the combination of intuitive hints and familiar words makes today’s challenge accessible even for newer players.

How to Play NYT Connections

For those unfamiliar, here’s a brief guide to tackling Connections puzzles effectively:

• Focus on Simplicity: Avoid overcomplicating. Words may have subtle links, such as phonetic or thematic similarities, that are easier to spot with a simple approach.
• Careful Guesses: Players have only four attempts to complete the puzzle, so weigh each word choice carefully before submitting.
• Use the Shuffle Button: The first word placement may be intentionally misleading. Shuffling the grid can provide a fresh perspective to identify correct connections.
• Look for Patterns: Observe recurring themes or commonalities among the 16 words to identify logical groups efficiently.

With these strategies, players can improve both their speed and accuracy while solving the daily puzzle.

FAQs

How difficult is today’s Connections puzzle?

Today’s puzzle is rated 1 out of 5 in difficulty, making it one of the easier challenges in the series.

What are the color-coded categories in Connections?

Yellow represents the easiest group, followed by green, blue, and purple, which is the hardest.