Connections Hints

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — October 8, 2025

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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid

All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.

ALTERNATIVE
ARENA
BEST
CLASSIC
CREAM
EGGSHELL
ELITE
FLOWER
GARAGE
GLOSS
MATTE
NAIL
OYSTER
PEARL
RIVER
SELECT
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Themes

The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.

FINESTStraightforward
ROCK MUSIC SUBGENRESModerate
PAINT FINISHESTricky
KINDS OF BEDSDevious
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One word per group

Theme name plus one word from each category.

FINESTStraightforward
WORDS MEANING THE TOP TIER OR HIGHEST QUALITY+ 3 more…
ROCK MUSIC SUBGENRESModerate
TYPES OF ROCK MUSIC YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CONCERT POSTER+ 3 more…
PAINT FINISHESTricky
SHEEN LEVELS YOU'D FIND ON A PAINT CAN LABEL+ 3 more…
KINDS OF BEDSDevious
THINGS THAT CAN PRECEDE OR FOLLOW 'BED' IN AN UNEXPECTED WAY+ 3 more…
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Full solution
FINESTStraightforward
BEST,CREAM,ELITE,SELECT

BEST, CREAM, ELITE, and SELECT all mean the finest or top-quality among a group.

ROCK MUSIC SUBGENRESModerate
ALTERNATIVE,ARENA,CLASSIC,GARAGE

ALTERNATIVE, ARENA, CLASSIC, and GARAGE are all subgenres or styles of rock music.

PAINT FINISHESTricky
EGGSHELL,GLOSS,MATTE,PEARL

EGGSHELL, GLOSS, MATTE, and PEARL are all finishes used to describe the reflectivity of paint.

KINDS OF BEDSDevious
FLOWER,NAIL,OYSTER,RIVER

FLOWER bed, NAIL bed, OYSTER bed, and RIVER bed are all types of beds, though none are for sleeping in the traditional sense.

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