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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThis is the historic Monday, September 8, 2025 edition of NYT Connections, puzzle #820. Start with the spoiler-light clues below, or jump to the category names and complete groups when you’re ready.
Hints for Connections #820
- Gentle hint: One group dismisses something as false or worthless. Another contains verbs that pair with “up” to mean increase. Look for fictional secret agents and familiar compounds that begin with “cat” for the other two.
- Category reveal: Nonsense; increase with “up”; fictional spies; cat ____.
The 16 words on the board
FISH, HIKE, HUNT, JACK, BULL, PEEL, ARCHER, TAIL, CRANK, WALK, NAP, BUNK, BALONEY, RAISE, RUBBISH, POWERS.
Answers for September 8, 2025
Spoilers below.
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Nonsense | BALONEY, BULL, BUNK, RUBBISH | Each can describe something untrue, worthless, or not to be taken seriously. |
| Increase, with “up” | CRANK, HIKE, JACK, RAISE | Crank up, hike up, jack up, and raise up can all express increasing something. |
| Fictional spies | ARCHER, HUNT, PEEL, POWERS | These are the surnames of Sterling Archer, Ethan Hunt, Emma Peel, and Austin Powers. |
| Cat ____ | FISH, NAP, TAIL, WALK | Each completes a familiar compound: catfish, catnap, cattail, and catwalk. |
Why WALK and HIKE are easy to mix up
Both words relate to walking, which makes them a plausible decoy pair. The distinction is their intended connection: HIKE belongs with verbs that go with “up,” while WALK completes “catwalk.”
A quick way to approach similar boards
- Say likely prefixes and suffixes aloud; a word-completion pattern may emerge.
- Test whether a suspected group shares a precise relationship, not just a broad association.
- Shuffle the board if you feel stuck; a new arrangement can make overlooked patterns easier to see.
All Things How’s guide attributed a difficulty rating of 3.5/5 to NYT Connections Companion for this 2025 puzzle. That is the page’s reported editor rating, not an official NYT rating.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- The game where _______ minds think alike!
- Prepare yourself for Blank Slate, a game of addicting predictions! How well can you put your finger on what everyone's thinking?
- Pick a Word Cue card, write the word you think best completes the phrase, and try to match it to anther player's word without giving a single hint
- Easy to learn, quick to play, and fun for the whole family; just grab a slate, write a word, and get ready to make a match. Great for large groups or small gatherings!
- Includes: Scoreboard, 8 dry-erase slates, 250 doubled-sided word cue cards, rules
Playing the puzzle and finding the archive
Connections asks you to sort 16 tiles into four groups of four. Forbes describes three incorrect guesses as available before a fourth wrong guess ends the game. TechRadar describes play through the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. Forbes also says past Connections puzzles are available to eligible Games or All Access subscribers; that description concerns archive access and should not be read as a statement of current subscription terms.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- UNIQUE COOPERATIVE WORD GAME: Write one clue connecting two keywords on each clover leaf. Teammates guess which keyword pair each clue links in this inventive, laugh-out-loud word association game
- CREATIVE PARTY GAME FOR ADULTS: So Clover! challenges players to make unexpected word connections. The more creative your clues, the higher your team scores in this hilarious adult party game
- GREAT FOR WORD GAME FANS: So Clover! takes cooperative word games to the next level with a unique multi-clue clover structure that delivers fresh, surprising, and satisfying creative connections
- FAST, FUN & SOCIAL: Plays in under 30 minutes with 3-6 players ages 10 and up. So Clover! is quick to setup, with no filler, just pure creative energy and highly collaborative family fun from the very first round
- IDEAL GIFT FOR ADULTS & FAMILIES: So Clover! is the party game gift for anyone who loves wordplay and creative thinking. Easy to teach in minutes, endlessly engaging at any family game night
Rank #3
- Two teams race to identify their agents from a 5×5 grid, guided by a spymaster who knows each card’s identity
- Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to link multiple cards, encouraging creative thinking
- Teammates guess words matching the clue while avoiding the other team’s agents, bystanders, and the assassin
- Revealing the assassin ends the game instantly, adding high-stakes tension
- Teams may guess up to the clue number plus one, allowing strategic risks or revisiting old clues
Rank #2
- STRATEGIC THINKING: Elevate the fun with this game, where players strategically choose word combinations, making it perfect for party games for adults and family, enhancing both depth and complexity.
- MULTIPLAYER FUN: Engage in multiplayer entertainment with Subtext Showdown, perfect for game nights with 3 to 6 participants, promoting communication and creative thinking in the realm of adult games for game night.
- POINTS OF PRECISION: Accumulate points by adeptly deducing associations or demonstrating telepathic synchronicity, ensuring a gratifying experience for effective communication and intuitive connections in adult board games.
- RACE AGAINST TIME: With a ticking clock, players must think quickly and make their associations before time runs out, adding an exciting element of urgency to the game.
- EXCITING PERFECT GIFT: Combine phrases from the 16 cards to form associations that friends can decode, providing an exhilarating challenge in teen-friendly card games, perfect gift for any occasion.
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