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NYT Connections puzzle #862 was released on Monday, October 20, 2025. Its 16 tiles conceal groups about afflictions, constellations, chemical-element symbols, and words that can precede “corn.”
Need the solution immediately? The groups are Affliction, Represented by constellations, Periodic table symbols, and ___corn.
Today’s Connections clues for puzzle #862
Connections asks you to divide 16 words into four groups of four. You can submit three incorrect guesses; a fourth mistake ends the game, so use the clues to test a category before committing.
Yellow: a scourge or hardship
Look for words that can describe a persistent problem, burden, or source of trouble.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Green: written in the stars
Several entries refer to figures or creatures represented by constellations.
Blue: periodic-table elements
The shortest-looking tiles are not ordinary words here. Read them as chemical symbols, including symbols with one or two letters.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Purple: “like candy and dent”
Complete a familiar word by placing each tile before corn. The resulting compounds are common words or names.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe four answers for NYT Connections #862
| Color | Category | Tiles |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Affliction | BUGBEAR, COMPLEX, DEMON, HANG-UP |
| Green | Represented by constellations | BIG BEAR, CENTAUR, HUNTER, LYRE |
| Blue | Periodic table symbols | AS, BE, I, K |
| Purple | ___corn | A, CAPRI, POP, UNI |
Why each group works
Yellow: BUGBEAR, COMPLEX, DEMON, HANG-UP
Each tile can describe an affliction or a troublesome burden. A bugbear is a persistent annoyance, while a complex, demon, or hang-up can represent a psychological or personal difficulty.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Green: BIG BEAR, CENTAUR, HUNTER, LYRE
These are represented by constellations: Ursa Major is the Big Bear, Centaurus represents a centaur, Orion is commonly identified as the Hunter, and Lyra is associated with a lyre.
Blue: AS, BE, I, K
These are element symbols: As is arsenic, Be is beryllium, I is iodine, and K is potassium. The K symbol comes from potassium’s Latin name, kalium.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Purple: A, CAPRI, POP, UNI
Adding corn produces acorn, Capricorn, popcorn, and unicorn. This word-completion pattern makes the purple group especially deceptive because the tiles do not look related on their own.
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All 16 tiles in puzzle #862
The board contained:
- K
- POP
- DEMON
- HUNTER
- COMPLEX
- AS
- A
- CENTAUR
- BE
- BIG BEAR
- BUGBEAR
- UNI
- I
- HANG-UP
- LYRE
- CAPRI
Is this the current daily puzzle?
No. #862 is the archived Monday, October 20, 2025 puzzle. “Today” in older answer guides referred to that release date, not to the current daily game in 2026. Access to the Connections archive and subscription requirements can change; the 2025 guides described archive access as available through an All Access or Games subscription.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
