NYT Connections #868, the latest of the series, is online now, presenting yet another round of brain teasing wordplay for devotees of The New York Times daily game. If today’s grid does have you in doubt, category hints, answers, and some strategy tips should be on hand to help you make light work of this Sunday puzzle.

🧩 What Is NYT Connections?

It is a word-association puzzle: given 16 random words set in a 4×4 grid, players must group them into four sets of four based on shared themes or connections.

Each category indicates its level of difficulty:

🟡 Yellow – Easiest

🟢 Green – Moderate

🔵 Blue – Tricky

🟣 Purple – Hardest

This test of logic, vocabulary, and lateral thinking, akin to Wordle, can be enjoyed for free via desktop or mobile on The NYT’s website or app.

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

Below are category hints to help you, without offering an outright solution:

🟡 Yellow (Easiest): Words used in music.

🟢 Green (Moderate): Bug related.

🔵 Blue (Tricky): Words related to celebrities.

🟣 Purple (Hardest): Smaller or cuter form of something.

Try to group by these hints before reviewing the full solution below.

✅ NYT Connections Answers – 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, competitors can fill in the entire 4×4 grid and score a perfect game.

🎯 Difficulty Level

Today’s puzzle is rated 4 out of 5, so it is moderately difficult. While Yellow and Green are somewhat easy, Purple might stump even seasoned players with its subtle wordplay.

🕹️ Tips for Playing NYT Connections

Begin with general themes: Look for broader patterns before narrowing down.

Don’t rush: You have only four mistakes to make per puzzle.

Shuffle the grid: Using shuffle may help in discovering the connections.

Think outside the box: Words might be connected via common idioms, phrases, or phonetics.

❓ FAQs

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

A: Daily hints and category clues can be found online for each puzzle.

Q: Where can I play NYT Connections?

A: The game is free to play on The New York Times website or mobile app under the Games section.