This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Sunday, October 19, 2025, game #861—not a live puzzle for today. Try the hints below first; the complete four groups are behind a spoiler break.
Spoiler-safe hints for Connections #861
Parade’s clues for the four categories, in order, are:
- How one might end up on the ground.
- Relates to something you read.
- Getting mad.
- Sweet treats with a little bit extra.
For a fresh look at the archived 16-word grid, see Wordhint’s October 19 archive. The hints and groupings below are based on Parade’s guide to this puzzle.
Full solution: all four groups
Spoilers ahead: the category names and every answer follow.
#1 Best Overall
| Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| TOPPLE | FALL, SPILL, TUMBLE, WIPEOUT | Ways to fall or come down. |
| PARTS OF A BOOK | COVER, JACKET, LEAVES, SPINE | Physical parts of a book. |
| LOST IT, WITH “OUT” | BUG, FLIP, FREAK, WIG | Each can precede “out”: bug out, flip out, freak out, wig out. |
| CHOCOLATE BARS PLUS A LETTER | CRUNCHY, DOVER, MARSH, SKORT | Each changes one letter in Crunch, Dove, Mars, or Skor, respectively. |
Why the grid can mislead
Several words invite more than one reading. “Flip,” for example, can suggest a fall, but it belongs with BUG, FREAK, and WIG because all four form phrases ending in “out.” Testing a possible group against every word helps expose that alternate meaning before you commit.
The puzzle’s full grid was BUG, COVER, CRUNCHY, DOVER, FALL, FLIP, FREAK, JACKET, LEAVES, MARSH, SKORT, SPILL, SPINE, TUMBLE, WIG, and WIPEOUT. Wordhint’s archive lists the grid; the category labels and assignments are given in Parade’s solution guide.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Rank #2
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