NYT Connections Hints #838

NYT Connections Hints #838: Hints, Answers and Tips for 26 Sep 2025

ByAqib Shahzad

The New York Times Connections game continues to capture the attention of puzzle lovers everywhere. Its unique challenge of finding “the connection between things” offers a satisfying daily mental workout. Each day presents a new grid of 16 words, and it’s up to you to sort them into four distinct groups of four, based on a shared property.

Sometimes the solution clicks into place instantly, but other days, the puzzle can feel like a real head-scratcher. If you’re looking for a little help with today’s game, you’ve come to the right place. This guide offers hints, strategies, and the full solution for NYT Connections #838 on September 26, 2025.

How Difficult Is Today’s Connections Puzzle?

Today’s puzzle is a mixed bag, offering a moderate challenge with a few tricky spots. The categories range from straightforward concepts to more abstract connections that might require a bit of creative thinking. One or two groups might jump out at you, but the remaining words are cleverly designed to misdirect. Be prepared for some red herrings that seem to fit multiple categories, especially within the more nuanced groups.

NYT Connections Hints for Today (September 26, 2025)

Stuck on the puzzle? Here are some hints to nudge you in the right direction without giving away the complete solution.

General Hint for Today’s Puzzle

Think about different types of measurements and actions. One group of words is particularly deceptive, as they can all be used in a cooking context but share a different, more specific link.

Hints for Each Color Category

  • Yellow Category Hint: These words are all related to a lack of intensity or brightness.
  • Green Category Hint: If you were baking a cake, you might perform these actions on the batter.
  • Blue Category Hint: These words can all precede a type of beer.
  • Purple Category Hint: Think about words that can be paired with a particular animal to create a new phrase or name.

Today’s Connections Categories Revealed

If the hints weren’t quite enough, here are the four categories for the September 26, 2025, Connections puzzle. Seeing the categories might be just what you need to solve the rest of the puzzle on your own.

  • Yellow: FAINT-HEARTED
  • Green: STIR, AS A BATTER
  • Blue: KINDS OF BEER
  • Purple: ____ BEAR

NYT Connections Answers for Friday, September 26, 2025

Ready for the full solution? Below are the answers for all four categories in today’s Connections puzzle #838.

FAINT-HEARTED (Yellow)

  • DIM
  • FAINT
  • LIGHT
  • PALE

Explanation: The yellow category today groups together four adjectives that all describe something that is weak, subdued, or lacks strength. For example, a DIM light isn’t very bright, a FAINT sound is hard to hear, a LIGHT color lacks saturation, and a PALE complexion lacks color. The unifying theme is a sense of being less than full or intense.

STIR, AS A BATTER (Green)

  • BEAT
  • WHIP
  • WHISK
  • WORD

Explanation: This category was one of the trickier ones. While BEAT, WHIP, and WHISK are all common terms for mixing ingredients, WORD is the outlier that makes this group clever. The connection here is that all four words can mean “to stir” or “to mix,” particularly in a culinary context. You might WHISK eggs, BEAT cream, or WHIP up a meringue. The inclusion of WORD is a play on the phrase “to word” something in a particular way, akin to mixing words to form a message, though this is a less common usage that can trip players up. A more likely interpretation from the puzzle editor is that these are all tools or actions related to mixing.

KINDS OF BEER (Blue)

  • BLONDE
  • BROWN
  • CREAM
  • SUN

Explanation: This group consists of words that can all precede “ale” or “beer” to describe a specific type of brew. You might order a BLONDE ale, a BROWN ale, or a CREAM ale. SUN is a bit more creative, referencing “Sun Beer” or brands that incorporate the word, playing on the theme of light-colored beers. This category tests your knowledge of common beverage classifications.

____ BEAR (Purple)

  • BLACK
  • POOL
  • POLAR
  • RICE

Explanation: As is often the case, the purple category is the most abstract and relies on wordplay. Each of these words can be placed before “BEAR” to create a well-known compound word or phrase. This results in BLACK Bear, POOL Bear (a lesser-known term but relates to pool sharks), POLAR Bear, and RICE Bear. This group requires you to think outside the literal definitions of the words and consider how they can be combined with another concept to form a new one.

Tips and Strategies for Solving Connections

Finding the NYT Connections puzzle solution can be tough, but with the right approach, you can improve your skills and solve it more consistently.

  • Look for Four-Word Connections First: Instead of getting distracted by pairs or triplets, actively scan the grid for four words that clearly belong together. Sometimes, one category is much more obvious than the others, and solving it first reduces the number of words you have to work with.
  • Don’t Get Fooled by Overlaps: The puzzle designers intentionally include words that could fit into multiple potential categories. For example, in today’s puzzle, words like CREAM could be associated with colors (PALE, LIGHT) or cooking actions (BEAT, WHIP). If you find a word that seems to fit everywhere, it might be the key to a trickier category.
  • Say the Words Out Loud: This might sound simple, but hearing the words can help you spot connections based on sound, such as rhymes or homophones. It can also help you recognize compound words or phrases, which are common in the purple category.
  • Shuffle the Words: If you’re stuck, use the “Shuffle” button. Seeing the words in a new arrangement can break you out of a mental rut and help you notice connections you previously missed.
  • Think About Different Meanings: Many words have multiple definitions. If you’re struggling, consider alternate meanings for the words on the board. A word like “light,” for instance, could refer to brightness, weight, or even a type of beer.

Share Your Experience

Building a daily puzzle habit is a fantastic way to keep your mind sharp. Whether you solved today’s puzzle in record time or needed a few hints to get there, the process is part of the fun. How did you find Connections #838? Which category gave you the most trouble? Share your thoughts and results in the comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle from The New York Times. Players are given a grid of 16 words and must sort them into four groups of four based on a common theme or connection.

How is the difficulty of the categories determined?

The four categories are color-coded to indicate their difficulty. Yellow is the most straightforward, followed by Green, then Blue, with Purple being the trickiest and often involving wordplay or abstract concepts.

What happens if I make a mistake?

You have four chances to solve the puzzle. If you submit a group of four words that isn’t a correct category, you lose one of your attempts.

Where can I find NYT Connections hints?

Websites like Forbes often publish daily hints. You can also search for terms like “NYT Connections hint today” or “Connections hint” to find guides like this one that can help you when you’re stuck.

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