The New York Times released its latest Connections puzzle for September 9, 2025 (#821). Players faced a tricky set of words, but the groupings were revealed with clear hints. Each color-coded section had its own theme, ranging from simple endings to clever wordplay.

The yellow set focused on the idea of being finished. The green group connected words with shells. The blue theme highlighted the act of taking a drink. The purple group went with a playful fill-in-the-blank using "dog."

The puzzle opened with the yellow group. This one was simple. The theme was finished. The words included complete, done, over, and through. All pointed to the same meaning of ending something.

The green group was about things with shells. It had egg, hard taco, M&M, and snail. Each item is known for having a hard or protective outer layer.

The blue group dealt with the idea of a swig. It included belt, gulp, shot, and slug. All are common words for a quick drink.

The purple group had the toughest twist. The theme was ____ dog. The answers were bull, lap, under, and watch. Each forms a common phrase when paired with "dog."

According to CNET, today's puzzle was not as hard as yesterday's, but it still tripped up many players. The clear hint paths helped, though the purple group was designed to be sneaky. Players had to think outside the box to link the words to "dog."

The Times recently added a Connections Bot. Registered players can now track progress, win streaks, and puzzle scores. This gives fans more ways to enjoy the game beyond solving.

The September 9 puzzle highlights how varied Connections can be. One group can feel obvious, while another forces creative thinking. That balance keeps the game fresh each day.

Today's NYT Connections answers show the mix of fun, logic, and wordplay that make it popular worldwide.