Issue #856 Tue 14 Oct
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — October 14, 2025
A tidy grid today that rewards steady attention. Two straightforward synonym clusters provide a base, while the remaining groups invite a closer look at word structure.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
A book left open on the nightstand, a forgotten podcast, the way your eyes track a single bird across a field.
Mental state verbs
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters A, E, H, O.
CAPTIVATE
One is ABSORB.
ABSORB · ENGAGE · HOLD · OCCUPY
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
The scribbled notes on a napkin after a long meeting, or the thin pamphlet handed out at a lecture.
Documents and analysis
Direct synonyms
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters B, D, O, R.
SUMMARY
One is BRIEF.
BRIEF · DIGEST · OUTLINE · REVIEW
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A hand pressed against a leaking pipe, or the red light that forces a car to wait at the intersection.
Actions of restriction
Direct synonyms
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters C, S.
HALT
One is CHECK.
CHECK · CURB · STAUNCH · STEM
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
A discarded letter left on the hallway floor, the bit of a name that remains when the rest is called out.
Linguistic wordplay
Truncated words
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters A, E, H, L.
ANIMALS MINUS STARTING LETTER
One is ANTHER.
ANTHER · EASEL · HARK · LAMA
Spoiler zone
Complete Connections answer
Open only the solution you want to see. Each answer stays hidden until you choose to reveal it.
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Reveal the yellow group
CAPTIVATEABSORB · ENGAGE · HOLD · OCCUPY
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Reveal the green group
SUMMARYBRIEF · DIGEST · OUTLINE · REVIEW
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Reveal the blue group
HALTCHECK · CURB · STAUNCH · STEM
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Reveal the violet group
ANIMALS MINUS STARTING LETTERANTHER · EASEL · HARK · LAMA
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on October 14, 2025. Every answer below helps you along without giving the game away — ready to see the full solution? See the complete Connections answer for October 14, 2025, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on October 14, 2025?
NYT Connections on October 14, 2025 rates 3 out of 4 on our difficulty scale — a tougher-than-average puzzle. As always you sort sixteen words into four colour-coded groups, and our hints tease what links each group without ever naming the words.
What's a spoiler-free hint for NYT Connections on October 14, 2025?
The hint ladder above starts with a one-line vibe for each of the four groups, then adds the connecting idea, then the wording of each category. You climb only as far as you need, and no grouped words are shown until the final reveal.
How many groups are in NYT Connections #856?
Four groups of four, ordered from the gentlest to the trickiest. For the categories and the sixteen words themselves, open the answer section on this page — the hints here keep them hidden.
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words
Today on Cluestand
Today
- Difficulty
- Stiff
- At a glance
- 4 groups · 16 words