Issue #862 Mon 20 Oct
NYT Connections Hints & Answer — October 20, 2025
A steady day for the grid, balancing clear-cut identification with a few spots that require a second look. The intersections are clean, though the final category may pull at your patience before it snaps into place.
yellow group 7 hints
Yellow group hints
The persistent voice in your head telling you that you left the stove on, even though you checked it three times.
Psychological states and personal grievances
Direct synonyms
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters B, C, D, H.
AFFLICTION
One is BUGBEAR.
BUGBEAR · COMPLEX · DEMON · HANG-UP
green group 7 hints
Green group hints
Looking up at the night sky and trying to find the shape in the mess of points.
Astronomy and classical mythology
Common celestial referents
Members are 4–8 letters; first letters B, C, H, L.
REPRESENTED BY CONSTELLATIONS
One is BIG BEAR.
BIG BEAR · CENTAUR · HUNTER · LYRE
blue group 7 hints
Blue group hints
A classroom wall covered in a chart of elements, half of which you have not thought about since graduation.
Scientific shorthand
Technical abbreviations as nomenclature
Members are 1–2 letters; first letters A, B, I, K.
PERIODIC TABLE SYMBOLS
One is AS.
AS · BE · I · K
violet group 7 hints
Violet group hints
The sound of a snack machine humming in the breakroom.
Wordplay and compound phrases
Common suffix addition
Members are 1–5 letters; first letters A, C, P, U.
___CORN
One is A.
A · CAPRI · POP · UNI
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
AFFLICTIONBUGBEAR · COMPLEX · DEMON · HANG-UP
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Reveal the green group
REPRESENTED BY CONSTELLATIONSBIG BEAR · CENTAUR · HUNTER · LYRE
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Reveal the blue group
PERIODIC TABLE SYMBOLSAS · BE · I · K
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Reveal the violet group
___CORNA · CAPRI · POP · UNI
Verified solution for .
Frequently asked questions
Spoiler-free help for Connections on October 20, 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 20, 2025, or browse every Connections puzzle in the archive.
How hard is NYT Connections on October 20, 2025?
NYT Connections on October 20, 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 20, 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 #862?
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