NYT Connections Hints October 18: Today’s Full Puzzle #860 Answers, Categories, and Solutions Explained

Today’s NYT Connections hints for October 18 (#860) are here, and puzzle fans are buzzing about one of the trickiest purple groups in weeks. If you’re stuck on today’s categories or just want to confirm your guesses, we’ve broken down all four groups, their hints, and the final answers — plus what makes today’s puzzle unique.

The New York Times’ daily word association puzzle continues to challenge even seasoned solvers. Puzzle #860, published on Friday, October 18, 2025, includes smooth movement terms, sports references, Hollywood icons, and a clever play on homophones. Here’s your complete guide to today’s Connections puzzle.

NYT Connections Hints for October 18 (#860)

Before jumping into the full solutions, here are today’s official group hints, starting with the easiest (yellow) and ending with the most challenging (purple):

• Yellow group hint: Move smoothly
• Green group hint: You throw it in many games
• Blue group hint: Screen stars
• Purple group hint: They sound like words involving retail

These clues give away the puzzle’s themes without spoiling too much. Many players reported that today’s purple group was particularly difficult due to its homophone twist, while the yellow group was solved the fastest.

NYT Connections Answers for October 18 (#860)

Here are the confirmed groupings and solutions for today’s puzzle:

🟡 Yellow Group – Glide

The words here all relate to smooth or effortless movement:

• Breeze
• Coast
• Float
• Skate

🟢 Green Group – Words Before “Ball” in Sports

Each of these terms can precede the word “ball” in a sport:

• Dodge
• Hand
• Pickle
• Racquet

🔵 Blue Group – Prolific Actors

These are all surnames of actors known for extensive film careers:

• Bacon (Kevin Bacon)
• Cage (Nicolas Cage)
• Cruise (Tom Cruise)
• Ford (Harrison Ford)

🟣 Purple Group – Homophones of Synonyms for “Vend”

This tricky group uses homophones of words that mean “to sell”:

• Cell (sell)
• Hock (hawk)
• Pedal (peddle)
• Trayed (trade)

Many players online called today’s purple set “the hardest in weeks,” since it required thinking beyond definitions and focusing on sound-alike words tied to the idea of selling.

Why Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle Stood Out

October 18’s puzzle showcased what makes Connections such a viral hit: a mix of straightforward logic and creative lateral thinking. The yellow and green groups rewarded quick pattern recognition, while the blue group leaned on pop culture knowledge. But the purple group — with its retail-themed homophones — tested players’ ability to think phonetically, not just semantically.

The puzzle also sparked lively discussion on social media, where fans debated whether “trayed” was too obscure. Others praised the puzzle for “one of the most satisfying solves yet.”

NYT Connections #860 is another reminder of why this word game has exploded in popularity in 2025. With hints, categories, and answers that stretch across language, culture, and trivia, each day’s puzzle offers a unique challenge — and a small but satisfying victory when solved.

In short: If you breezed through the yellow and green but stumbled on the purple, you weren’t alone. Today’s puzzle was a clever test of wordplay and association — and one of the year’s most enjoyable challenges yet.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What is the yellow group in NYT Connections today?

The yellow group is themed around smooth movement. The answers are breeze, coast, float, and skate.

Q2: Which words come before “ball” in today’s green group?

The green group answers are dodge, hand, pickle, and racquet — all words that can precede “ball” in various sports.

Q3: Who are the actors in today’s blue group?

The blue group features prolific actors: Bacon, Cage, Cruise, and Ford.

Q4: What is the hardest group in NYT Connections #860?

The purple group is the hardest, featuring homophones of synonyms for “sell”: cell, hock, pedal, and trayed.

Q5: What is NYT Connections puzzle #860?

It’s the October 18, 2025 edition of The New York Times’ daily word game, where players group 16 words into four related categories.