Need a nudge before seeing the answers? These hints for the September 11, 2025, NYT Connections puzzle (#823) move from broad clues to one-word nudges, then reveal all four groups. Stop before the answer section if you want to keep the solve spoiler-free.
How Connections #823 works
The board contains 16 words to sort into four groups of four, with each group linked by a shared idea. You can make three incorrect guesses; a fourth ends the game. The color sequence usually runs from yellow as the easiest group toward purple as the hardest, but it is a guide rather than a guarantee. TechRadar’s September 10, 2025, report and Forbes’ September 11, 2025, answer page describe this puzzle and its format.
Progressive hints for September 11
Read only as far as you need; the one-word nudges are more revealing than the group clues.
Yellow
Group hint: cause imperfections. One-word nudge: MAR.
#1 Best Overall
Green
Group hint: “cor, look at the size of that!” One-word nudge: WHOPPER.
Blue
Group hint: “hey, that’s not nice!” One-word nudge: STARE.
Rank #2
Purple
Group hint: features of a diamond in the rough—or an affluent part of town. One-word nudge: BOX.
Full answers for Connections #823
Spoilers below: the category names and all 16 answers follow.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall| Color | Category | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | BLEMISH | DENT, DING, MAR, SCRATCH | Marks or flaws on a surface. |
| Green | BEHEMOTH | COLOSSUS, MAMMOTH, WHALE, WHOPPER | Each can refer to something enormous. |
| Blue | RUDE THINGS TO DO | POINT, SNICKER, STARE, WHISPER | Actions framed by the puzzle as socially rude. |
| Purple | ON A BASEBALL FIELD | BASE, BOX, MOUND, PLATE | Terms associated with positions or features on a baseball field. |
The red herring that can derail the solve
MOUND, MAR, SNICKER and WHOPPER may look like candy names with their final letters removed. That pattern is tempting, but it does not form the intended group: WHOPPER belongs with COLOSSUS, MAMMOTH and WHALE as a term for something huge. Testing possible groupings against the whole board helps expose a near-match that would otherwise consume a guess.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to play or revisit the puzzle
Connections is available through the NYT Games site on desktop and mobile, as described by TechRadar. Forbes notes that NYT subscribers can access an archive of previous puzzles; subscription terms and archive availability may change, so check the current NYT Games offer if you want to replay #823.
Quick Recap
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