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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 →NYT Connections #866 is the puzzle for Friday, October 24, 2025. Start with the four clues below if you want to solve it without seeing the groups; the full categories and answers are farther down.
NYT Connections hints for #866
These clues point toward each group without listing its four words:
- Yellow: Peak times
- Green: Formatting options
- Blue: Bright stuff
- Purple: Something useful at the end
The reported in-game hint words, in color order, are PRIME, BOLD, RAINBOW and HERRING. [TechRadar; All Things How]
Full answers for Connections #866
Spoilers below: the categories and all sixteen words are revealed here.
#1 Best Overall
| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Best Years | HEYDAY, PINNACLE, PRIME, ZENITH | Each describes a peak period or high point. |
| Green | Things You Can Do to Text | BOLD, HIGHLIGHT, STRIKETHROUGH, UNDERLINE | Each is a text-formatting action. |
| Blue | Things Known for Being Colorful | KALEIDOSCOPE, PEACOCK, RAINBOW, SUNSET | Each is associated with vivid color. |
| Purple | Ending in Accessories | BAYWATCH, COOTIE, HERRING, KINGPIN | The words end with WATCH, TIE, EARRING and PIN, respectively. |
The category names and word groups match in both reviewed guides. [TechRadar; All Things How]
How the trickiest group works
The purple group relies on spotting an accessory hidden at the end of each entry: BAYWATCH, COOTIE, HEARRING and KINGPIN. Reading each word as a whole can make the connection less obvious than the other three categories.
Board words
The sixteen entries are BAYWATCH, HIGHLIGHT, RAINBOW, HERRING, PRIME, SUNSET, BOLD, PEACOCK, COOTIE, HEYDAY, KALEIDOSCOPE, UNDERLINE, ZENITH, KINGPIN, STRIKETHROUGH and PINNACLE.
How to approach the puzzle
A useful way in is to group the peak-period synonyms and formatting actions, then look for things associated with vivid color. For the harder final set, inspect the endings of the remaining words for accessory names. That is one possible solving route, not a required order. [All Things How]
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Rank #3
Connections asks players to sort sixteen words into four groups of four. TechRadar says players can make up to four mistakes and that the game is available through NYT Games on desktop or mobile. A new daily puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so “today” can refer to different editions depending on where a reader is. [TechRadar]
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which puzzle date is this?
This answer guide is for Friday, October 24, 2025, game #866—not an unspecified October 24 puzzle. The date and game number identify the same edition in both guides. [TechRadar; All Things How]
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