A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #816
hints & answers for September 4, 2025

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows September 4, 2025. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, C, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

ANGEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE

Reveal all four words
  • ANGEL
  • CANDY CANE
  • STRING LIGHTS
  • TINSEL

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, F, P and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AIRBRUSH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLEAN UP, AS A PHOTOGRAPH

Reveal all four words
  • AIRBRUSH
  • FIX
  • PHOTOSHOP
  • TOUCH UP

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, P, P and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CORNICHON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FRENCH FOOD WORDS

Reveal all four words
  • CORNICHON
  • PAIN
  • PAMPLEMOUSSE
  • VINAIGRETTE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with H, O, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

HONEYCOMB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS WITH CELLS

Reveal all four words
  • HONEYCOMB
  • ORGANISM
  • SOLAR PANEL
  • SPREADSHEET
Show categories only
  • Yellow: WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE
  • Green: CLEAN UP, AS A PHOTOGRAPH
  • Blue: FRENCH FOOD WORDS
  • Purple: THINGS WITH CELLS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE

ANGEL · CANDY CANE · STRING LIGHTS · TINSEL

Green

CLEAN UP, AS A PHOTOGRAPH

AIRBRUSH · FIX · PHOTOSHOP · TOUCH UP

Blue

FRENCH FOOD WORDS

CORNICHON · PAIN · PAMPLEMOUSSE · VINAIGRETTE

Purple

THINGS WITH CELLS

HONEYCOMB · ORGANISM · SOLAR PANEL · SPREADSHEET

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.