Connections Hints: Sep 5, 2025

This page shows spoiler-layered hints for the NYT Connections puzzle published on Sep 5, 2025 (2025-09-05). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the full group breakdown when you're ready.

Meta: Puzzle #862

Puzzle #862 · 2025-09-05

Step through today’s Connections hints

Start with broad themes, then reveal more detail about the groups and tiles only when you need it. The final button shows today's full group breakdown.

Puzzle reference: Connections #862 for 2025-09-05, edition main, with a standard four-group board. Spoiler categories and tiles stay collapsed until you open the hint layers below.

Hint 1 – overall theme

There are 4 groups in today’s puzzle.

Themes include: PIQUANCY, AVAILABLE, MALE ANIMALS and 1 more.

Hint 2 – group titles

Here are the category names for each group. Try matching the tiles in the official game to these themes before you reveal any tiles.

PIQUANCY
AVAILABLE
MALE ANIMALS
CHINESE DYNASTIES

Hint 3 – group tiles

Reveal the tiles for each group. If you only want a partial nudge, stop after reading one or two groups and go back to the official puzzle.

PIQUANCY

KICK

PUNCH

ZEST

ZING

AVAILABLE

FREE

SINGLE

SOLO

STAG

MALE ANIMALS

BILLY

BUCK

JACK

RAM

CHINESE DYNASTIES

HAN

MING

SONG

TANG

Reveal full answer

This is the full breakdown of today's Connections puzzle: group titles and all tiles, grouped together.