Why Today’s NYT Connections Hints Stumped Players on September 21

The New York Times has released a new Connections puzzle for September 21, 2025. Puzzle #833 presents a unique challenge for word game enthusiasts. Players must group sixteen words into four secret categories.

Today’s grid includes words like “pinch,” “chill,” and “quash.” The solution requires identifying subtle thematic links between these terms.

Breaking Down Today’s Connections Categories

The easiest category, colored yellow, relates to modern technology. It involves common actions performed on smartphones and tablets. According to The New York Times, this category is often the most straightforward for players to identify first.

The green category describes a state of being. It focuses on words synonymous with relaxing or taking it easy. This group uses some informal language found in everyday conversation.

Strategic Tips for Solving the Puzzle

Identifying the blue category requires thinking about commercial spaces. The words all describe places where customers might sit inside a specific type of business. This category is considered of medium difficulty.

The purple category is the most challenging. It involves a wordplay trick where common vegetables are disguised. Solvers must remove the first letter from each answer to reveal a familiar vegetable name.

Success in NYT Connections hinges on spotting these clever patterns. Today’s puzzle offers a satisfying mix of modern and classic wordplay challenges.

Info at your fingertips

What are the category hints for today’s NYT Connections?

The hints are Yellow: Touchscreen Gestures, Green: Having a Chill, Blue: Seating Arrangements, and Purple: Vegetables without the first letter. These clues point players toward the correct groupings.

What is the answer to the purple category today?

The purple category is “VEGETABLES WITH FIRST LETTER REMOVED.” The words ALE, EEK, HIVE, and QUASH become kale, leek, chive, and squash when their first letters are returned.

How difficult is today’s Connections puzzle?

Based on analysis from puzzle solvers, today’s game is considered moderately easy. The word associations are logical, though the purple category provides a satisfying challenge for veterans.

Where can I play the NYT Connections game?

The game is available for free on The New York Times website and its mobile app. It is part of the newspaper’s popular suite of online puzzles, which also includes Wordle and Strands.