NYT Connections Answers and Hints for October 26, 2025: Solve Sunday Puzzle #868 with These Clues

The latest NYT Connections puzzle (#868) is live, offering another round of brain-teasing wordplay for fans of The New York Times’ hit daily game. If today’s grid has you stumped, we’ve got you covered with category hints, answers, and strategy tips to help you crack the Sunday puzzle.

🧩 What Is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a popular word association puzzle where players are given 16 random words arranged in a 4x4 grid. The goal is to group them into four sets of four based on their shared connections or themes.

Each category is color-coded to represent difficulty:

🟡 Yellow – Easiest

🟢 Green – Moderate

🔵 Blue – Tricky

🟣 Purple – Hardest

The game challenges players’ logic, vocabulary, and lateral thinking, similar to Wordle, and is available for free on both desktop and mobile via The New York Times website or app.

💡 Hints for NYT Connections #868 (October 26, 2025)

If you’re looking for a little help without spoiling the fun, here are the category clues for today’s puzzle:

🟡 Yellow (Easiest): Used to make music

🟢 Green: Related to bugs

🔵 Blue: Celebrity attributes

🟣 Purple (Hardest): Smaller or cuter version of something

Try grouping the 16 words using these hints before checking the final solutions below!

✅ NYT Connections Answers for October 26, 2025 (#868)

🟡 Yellow – Kinds of Instruments: BRASS, PERCUSSION, STRING, WIND

🟢 Green – Words in a Famous Muhammad Ali Quote: BEE, BUTTERFLY, FLOAT, STING

🔵 Blue – Kinds of Contests: BEAUTY, POPULARITY, STARING, TALENT

🟣 Purple – Words with Diminutive Suffixes: DOGGY, DROPLET, KITCHENETTE, STARLING

With these connections, players can neatly complete today’s 4x4 grid and earn a perfect score.

🎯 Difficulty Level

Today’s puzzle has been rated 4 out of 5 in difficulty, making it moderately challenging. While some categories might seem straightforward, the Purple category could trip up even experienced players with its tricky wordplay.

🕹️ How to Play NYT Connections – Quick Tips

If you’re new to the game, here’s how to boost your success rate:

Keep It Simple: Look for general themes before focusing on specific ones.

Avoid Rushing: You only get four mistakes, so think before submitting a set.

Shuffle the Grid: Use the shuffle button to reveal hidden patterns.

Think Broadly: Words may connect through phrases, idioms, or phonetic similarities.

❓ FAQs

Q: Where can I find hints for NYT Connections puzzles?

A: Hints are available online for each day’s puzzle, revealing clues for all four color-coded categories.

Q: Where can I play NYT Connections?

A: You can play it for free via The New York Times website or mobile app under the Games section.