NYT Connections puzzle #867, for Saturday, October 25, 2025, asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Start with the progressively clearer hints below; the complete groups and answers follow a spoiler warning.
Progressive hints for October 25
These are editorial clues, not official category names. Read them in order, stopping when you have enough to solve a group.
- Trick or treat!
- Things your Apple Watch can do.
- The season of giving.
- Award-winning dramatic retellings.
One-word nudges
If you want a little more help, try these words: FLEECE, ALARM, ACCORD, CAPOTE.
More direct group clues
- Don’t get taken for a ride.
- No ticking gears.
- From one to another.
- Golden statues.
The 16 words
DATE, VEST, LIGHT, SHAFT, RAY, FLEECE, ALARM, LINCOLN, GRANT, MILK, HOSE, AWARD, HUSTLE, STOPWATCH, ACCORD, CAPOTE.
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Spoilers: the answers
The four solved groups are below. The game’s colors indicate difficulty tiers, with yellow generally the easiest and purple the hardest, as described by Forbes.
| Color and category | Words |
|---|---|
| Yellow — Swindle | FLEECE, HOSE, HUSTLE, SHAFT |
| Green — Digital Watch Features | ALARM, DATE, LIGHT, STOPWATCH |
| Blue — Confer | ACCORD, AWARD, GRANT, VEST |
| Purple — Best Actor-Winning Biopics | CAPOTE, LINCOLN, MILK, RAY |
Why the groupings can be tricky
Swindle
FLEECE, HOSE, HUSTLE, and SHAFT can each mean to cheat or exploit someone. MILK can also mean to exploit, making it a tempting false match; here it belongs with the biopics.
Rank #2
Digital Watch Features
ALARM, DATE, LIGHT, and STOPWATCH are functions found on a digital watch. The category is about watch features, not merely words associated with time.
Confer
To confer is to grant or bestow. ACCORD, AWARD, GRANT, and VEST fit through that sense: to accord, award, grant, or vest something in someone.
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CAPOTE, LINCOLN, MILK, and RAY refer to biographical films associated with actors who won the Best Actor Oscar for their performances. The label describes the films, not simply famous people named by the words.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.About puzzle #867
Forbes and Parade identify the October 25 edition as Connections #867, and The Word Finder’s date-specific practice board lists the same grid and groupings. The puzzle presents 16 words to sort into four groups of four; a wrong grouping costs an attempt. Paul Tassi of Forbes described narrowly avoiding defeat while working on the yellow group, a personal reaction rather than an objective difficulty rating.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Forbes: NYT Connections Hints Today: Saturday, October 25 Clues And Answers (#867)
- Parade: NYT ‘Connections’ Hint and Answers Today, Saturday, October 25
- The Word Finder: NYT Connections Clues, Hints & Answers — October 25, 2025
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