Every day, word-puzzle fans in the U.S. (and around the world) look forward to the NYT Connections game — a clever challenge in which you group 16 words into four themed categories. If you’re stuck on October 15’s puzzle (Game #857), this guide will walk you through helpful hints, strategy tips, and the full solutions (with explanations).
What Is NYT Connections & How It Works
Before diving into today’s puzzle, here’s a quick refresher on the NYT Connections format:
- You’re given 16 words that seem unrelated at first glance.
- Your job is to sort them into 4 groups of 4 words each, where each group shares a hidden theme.
- The groups are color-coded by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), then Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest).
- You can make up to 4 mistakes before the puzzle auto-reveals the remaining groups.
- The puzzle resets daily at midnight local time.
Because themes can rely on synonyms, wordplay, cultural references, or lateral thinking, Connections is different from many other word games. It rewards pattern recognition and flexible thinking over brute vocabulary knowledge.
October 15, 2025 — Today’s Puzzle (#857) — Word List & Early Hints
Here are the 16 words that appear in today’s NYT Connections puzzle:
KIDNEY, GOLF, GREAT, BRONCO, PINTO, VACUUM, KIDDIE, LIMA, NAVY, OLYMPIC, ELEPHANT, FIESTA, INFINITY, BRAVO, MUSTANG, DELTA
Right off the bat, that’s a varied mix — from animal (“ELEPHANT”) to automobile models (“MUSTANG”, “BRONCO”, “PINTO”, “FIESTA”) to phonetic words (“BRAVO”, “DELTA”, “LIMA”, “GOLF”).
Early Hints (Without Spoilers)
If you want just enough to nudge yourself forward without giving away the full answers, here are moderate hints for each difficulty level:
- Yellow (easiest group): Think about “types of pools” — you’ll see some words that fit that theme.
- Green: This group is tied to spelling letters aloud, like in radio codes.
- Blue: Focus on car models — there’s a set of words that all belong to the same automobile brand.
- Purple (hardest): This one is trickier — think of a phrase paired with “seal” (i.e. “____ seal”).
If those hints get you stuck again or you want full confirmation, keep reading below.
Full Answers & Explanations (Spoiler Zone)
If you’re okay with seeing the solutions, here are the correct groupings and how they connect:
| Color | Theme / Connection | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Types of pools | INFINITY, KIDDIE, KIDNEY, OLYMPIC |
| Green | NATO phonetic alphabet letters | BRAVO, DELTA, GOLF, LIMA |
| Blue | Ford automobile models | BRONCO, FIESTA, MUSTANG, PINTO |
| Purple | “___ seal” phrases | ELEPHANT seal, GREAT seal, NAVY seal, VACUUM seal |
A few quick notes on the trickier group (Purple):
- Each of those words pairs with “seal” to form a known phrase (e.g. “Navy Seal”).
- Sometimes that kind of “fill-in-the-blank” trick is what makes the purple category the hardest.
Strategy Tips & Tricks to Improve at Connections
Here are a few strategies to refine your skills and solve daily puzzles faster:
1. Start with Yellow & Green
Yellow is usually the easiest group / theme, so identify that first. Green tends to be more straightforward than Blue or Purple. Once those are placed, the remaining words are narrowed.
2. Look for the Obvious Sets
If you see multiple potential car models, phonetic alphabet words, or fill-in-the-blank structures, use those visual hints to cluster possible groups. In today’s puzzle, the car models and NATO code words jump out.
3. Use Elimination for the Harder Groups
Once you’ve placed the easier groups, the leftover words must fall into the remaining categories. That process of elimination is powerful in Connections.
4. Don’t Let Ambiguity Trap You
Some words can fit in multiple themes — resist overthinking and weigh which connection is stronger or more obvious. If a word fits better contextually in an alternate group, go with the cleaner thematic fit.
5. Keep an Eye on Wordplay
Because Connections loves wordplay (prefixes, suffixes, fill-in-the-blank), always test whether a word could combine with “seal,” “pool,” or other common pairing. Today’s “___ seal” trick is a classic example.
Why October 15 Was a Solid Puzzle
October 15’s puzzle offers a nice balance:
- The Yellow and Green themes are quite direct, giving players momentum early.
- The Blue group is satisfying for car enthusiasts or those familiar with automakers.
- The Purple theme uses that clever fill-in-the-blank “seal” trick — not obscure, but just tricky enough to make you pause.
That mix makes it accessible for mid-level solvers yet rewarding for veterans who enjoy teasing out the subtler link.
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in Future Connections
As you build your streak and sharpen your mind:
- Expect recurring themes like animal pairings, geography, brands, phrases, and fill-in-the-blank puzzles.
- The Purple group will often be the trickiest — it might lean on idioms, homonyms, or less common associations.
- Also, sometimes a group that feels familiar is just a decoy — the designers intentionally mix misdirects to make you think twice.
Finally, remember: mistakes are a part of the game. You have up to 4 wrong guesses before the puzzle reveals the rest. Don’t be afraid to test hypotheses.
Final Thoughts
If you’re playing NYT Connections daily, the October 15 puzzle (#857) is a fun challenge with an excellent mix of clarity and cleverness. The Yellow and Green groups get you off to a good start, while the Blue and Purple push your reasoning just enough.
Whether you’re rebuilding a streak, chasing accuracy, or just blowing off steam between work or study, Connections trains your pattern recognition, lateral thinking, and vocabulary all at once. Use those early hints, chunk the obvious sets, and save your critical energy for the trickier pairs.
