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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →New York Times Connections #816 was published on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The grid contains 16 words that must be divided into four groups of four. Below are spoiler-controlled hints, followed by the category names and complete answers.
How this Connections puzzle works
Connections presents 16 words and asks you to find four groups of four related entries. The groups are ranked by difficulty and shown in yellow, green, blue and purple. Four incorrect guesses end the game. You can play on the New York Times website or in the NYT Games app.
The 16 words in Connections #816
- HONEYCOMB
- PAIN
- CANDY CANE
- AIRBRUSH
- ORGANISM
- PAMPLEMOUSSE
- SOLAR PANEL
- ANGEL
- FIX
- SPREADSHEET
- TINSEL
- VINAIGRETTE
- STRING LIGHTS
- TOUCH UP
- CORNICHON
- PHOTOSHOP
Spoiler-light hints
Start with the broad clues below. Each section adds one representative word without revealing the full category.
Yellow hint
Think of festive decorations, especially things associated with a Christmas tree. One extra nudge: ANGEL.
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Green hint
These are ways to clean up or improve a photograph. One extra nudge: FIX.
Blue hint
Look for French or European food vocabulary. One extra nudge: VINAIGRETTE.
Purple hint
Consider different meanings of the word “cell.” One extra nudge: ORGANISM.
Category names and answers
Warning: the complete solutions are below.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE | ANGEL, CANDY CANE, STRING LIGHTS, TINSEL |
| Green | CLEAN UP, AS A PHOTOGRAPH | AIRBRUSH, FIX, PHOTOSHOP, TOUCH UP |
| Blue | FRENCH FOOD WORDS | CORNICHON, PAIN, PAMPLEMOUSSE, VINAIGRETTE |
| Purple | THINGS WITH CELLS | HONEYCOMB, ORGANISM, SOLAR PANEL, SPREADSHEET |
Why the grid is tricky
The puzzle relies on semantic overlap rather than obscure vocabulary. AIRBRUSH can look like a general object instead of a photo-editing action, while SPREADSHEET seems unrelated to biology until “cells” is read in its spreadsheet sense. The French group also mixes familiar food terms with words that may be recognized only after the category becomes clear.
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Access and archive notes
The current puzzle is playable through the NYT website or Games app. Older Connections games in the NYT Games archive are available to All Access or Games subscribers, according to coverage from Forbes.
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