Daily players of NYT Connections, the New York Times’ popular word-association puzzle, were offered fresh help on Thursday as sites and solver guides published the hints and full answers for game #823 dated September 11, 2025. The grid of 16 words is divided into four colour-coded categories. Below are the official hints, category themes and the full solutions for today’s puzzle, along with playing tips and a brief difficulty assessment.
NYT Connections places 16 seemingly unrelated words in a 4×4 grid. Players must identify four groups of four words that share a common link, from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple). The puzzle resets daily and is free to play on the New York Times website and app.
For solvers seeking targeted help, the NYT Connections hints for September 11 were published as follows, as per a report by Beebom :
You are allowed four attempts to correctly sort all 16 words into the four colour-coded categories.
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What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections places 16 seemingly unrelated words in a 4×4 grid. Players must identify four groups of four words that share a common link, from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple). The puzzle resets daily and is free to play on the New York Times website and app.
NYT Connections Today’s category hints (quick guide)
For solvers seeking targeted help, the NYT Connections hints for September 11 were published as follows, as per a report by Beebom :- Yellow (easiest) — Defect
- Green — Large things
- Blue — Rude things
- Purple (hardest) — Baseball
Categories and answers (game #823)
Players who prefer to check solutions or who were stumped may find the correct groupings below.- BLEMISH (Defect): DENT, DING, MAR, SCRATCH
- BEHEMOTH (Large things): COLOSSUS, MAMMOTH, WHALE, WHOPPER
- RUDE THINGS TO DO (Rude things): POINT, SNICKER, STARE, WHISPER
- ON A BASEBALL FIELD (Baseball): BASE, BOX, MOUND, PLATE
NYT Connections: Difficulty and solver notes
Based on experience with the puzzle, today’s Connections was rated 2 out of 5 on a subjective difficulty scale where 1 is easiest and 5 is hardest. Solvers reported the green and yellow categories were straightforward; locating the baseball-field terms and the “rude things” required a little cross-checking but proved manageable once a few words were placed.How to approach Connections puzzles
Veteran players suggest a simple, methodical approach:- Scan for obvious sets first. Look for groups that share clear, literal links (e.g., food categories, synonyms for “big”, or sports items).
- Use the colour hierarchy. The yellow category is usually the easiest; solving it early narrows the pool for tougher groups.
- Be cautious with guesses. You have only four attempts to partition the grid correctly — an incorrect grouping may reduce available hints or end the game.
- Shuffle when stuck. The shuffle tool rearranges the grid and can reduce editorial misdirection; it often helps reveal patterns.
FAQs
Where can I play NYT Connections?
You can play on The New York Times Games page or via the NYT app on mobile devices. The game is free to play.
How many attempts do I get per puzzle?
You are allowed four attempts to correctly sort all 16 words into the four colour-coded categories.Add 
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