NYT Connections Hints Today (#862): October 20 Monday 2025
Looking for the NYT Connections hints today (#862) for October 20, 2025? Get your spoiler-free clues, themes, and full answers right here!
Connections NYT game play online
If you’re addicted to the New York Times Connections puzzle, you’re not alone. This daily word game challenges players to find groups of four words that are connected by a common theme. As of October 20, 2025, puzzle #862 is live, and it’s a tricky one!
Whether you’re stuck or just curious, you’re in the right place. Below you’ll find spoiler-free hints to guide you and if you scroll further, the full answers to today’s NYT Connections puzzle.
Let’s crack puzzle #862 together.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a word association puzzle from The New York Times. Each day, you’re given 16 words and tasked with organizing them into four groups of four, each connected by a theme.
The themes can be:
- Simple word meanings (like “types of fruit”)
- Wordplay or phrases
- Pop culture references
- Hidden relationships (like chemical symbols or star signs)
The categories get harder as you go:
🟨 Yellow (Easy) → 🟩 Green (Medium) → 🟦 Blue (Hard) → 🟪 Purple (Trickiest)
NYT Connections Hints Today (#862): October 20, 2025
🟨 Yellow Group Hint: Ailments or Bad Feelings
These words all relate to negative physical or emotional states. Think discomfort, pain, or trouble.
Examples of what to look for:
- Sickness
- Problems
- Troubles
🟩 Green Group Hint: Zodiac Constellations
All these words are represented in the stars—literally. They are names of astrological signs or star constellations.
Clue: Think of the 12 signs of the zodiac and Greek myths.
🟦 Blue Group Hint: Periodic Table Elements
This one is clever. All these words are two-letter chemical symbols on the periodic table.
Think:
- H = Hydrogen
- Fe = Iron
- Au = Gold
…you get the idea.
🟪 Purple Group Hint: ___ Corn
Each word fits in the phrase “___ corn.” This is a classic fill-in-the-blank word group.
Examples:
- Popcorn
- Sweet corn
- Candy corn
NYT Connections Answers Today (#862): October 20, 2025
🚨 Spoiler Alert! Below are the full answers for today’s puzzle. If you’re still trying to solve it, scroll back up and try using the hints first.
🟨 Yellow Group: AFFLICTION
- Illness
- Disorder
- Complaint
- Condition
🟩 Green Group: REPRESENTED BY CONSTELLATIONS
- Aries
- Taurus
- Leo
- Virgo
🟦 Blue Group: PERIODIC TABLE SYMBOLS
- Fe
- Ag
- Pb
- Au
🟪 Purple Group: ___ CORN
- Sweet
- Candy
- Creamed
- Pop
Tips for Solving NYT Connections Puzzles
Want to get better at Connections? Here are some strategic tips:
- Scan the list quickly: Spot obvious word groupings first—like colors, animals, or foods.
- Think of multiple meanings: Words like “pop” could relate to music, family, or snacks.
- Watch for trick categories: NYT loves “___ blank” puzzles or acronyms.
- Use process of elimination: Get rid of the obvious groups first, then tackle the harder ones.
- Look for wordplay: Homophones, puns, or common idioms are fair game.
Why People Love NYT Connections
The appeal of NYT Connections is in its mix of challenge and satisfaction. It requires:
- Vocabulary
- Pattern recognition
- Creative thinking
It’s also a great brain exercise and a fun daily habit for word game lovers, especially those who enjoy Wordle and Spelling Bee.
Final Thoughts
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (#862) for October 20, 2025 offered a satisfying mix of logic, trivia, and wordplay. From zodiac signs to popcorn varieties, this puzzle kept players thinking across multiple domains.
If you enjoyed today’s hints and answers, be sure to bookmark this page we post daily NYT Connections hints every puzzle.
And remember: the purple group is always trickier than it looks!
