Spoilers ahead: NYT Connections puzzle #821, dated Tuesday, September 9, 2025, groups the words into Finished, Things with shells, Swig, and ___DOG. Use the clues below in stages if you still want to solve it yourself before seeing the complete answer set.
Spoiler warning: The complete solution to NYT Connections puzzle #821 appears below. If you are solving the Tuesday, September 9, 2025, puzzle, start with the word list and broad clues before opening the stronger hints or final answers.
The 16 words in Connections #821
Here is the board without any group labels:
- SLUG
- EGG
- COMPLETE
- BULL
- LAP
- SNAIL
- WATCH
- BELT
- OVER
- UNDER
- THROUGH
- HARD TACO
- DONE
- GULP
- M&M
- SHOT
Light hints
Try to sort the words yourself using these category-level clues. The clues are listed in the standard color order, from yellow to purple:
- Yellow: The opposite of just starting; think “finished.”
- Green: Hard on the outside and soft or filled on the inside.
- Blue: A synonym for taking a quick or substantial drink.
- Purple: Words that can be followed by “dog.”
One-word nudges
If you need a more specific push without seeing the full solution, one word from each group is:
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- Yellow: OVER
- Green: SNAIL
- Blue: SHOT
- Purple: UNDER
Stronger hints: the category names
Reveal the four categories
- Yellow: Finished
- Green: Things with shells
- Blue: Swig
- Purple: ___DOG
NYT Connections #821 answers for September 9, 2025
Reveal the complete solution
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Finished | COMPLETE, DONE, OVER, THROUGH |
| Green | Things with shells | EGG, HARD TACO, M&M, SNAIL |
| Blue | Swig | BELT, GULP, SHOT, SLUG |
| Purple | ___DOG | BULL, LAP, UNDER, WATCH |
Why the trickier entries fit
THROUGH belongs with the finished words in the sense of being finished with something or having reached the end of it. COMPLETE, DONE, and OVER are more direct matches, which makes THROUGH the likely sticking point in the yellow group.
The green category is intentionally broader than “animals with shells.” An EGG has a shell, a HARD TACO has a crisp shell, an M&M has a candy shell, and a SNAIL carries a shell. The variety is what makes the group work.
In the blue group, GULP and SHOT can describe an amount or act of drinking, while SLUG can mean a quantity of alcohol consumed. BELT is the informal entry: as a verb, to “belt” a drink is to consume it quickly or energetically.
The purple words all form familiar compounds or phrases when followed by DOG: bulldog, lapdog, underdog, and watchdog. The blank in the category name means each answer comes before “dog.”
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More Connections puzzles
Connections gives players 16 words to divide into four groups of four. The groups are color-coded by difficulty: yellow is generally the most approachable, while purple is usually the most wordplay-heavy. Because several words can appear to fit more than one idea, finding the intended four-word sets is the central challenge.
The New York Times releases its daily puzzle at midnight in the player’s local time zone, so the date shown can vary depending on where you play. This guide is specifically for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, puzzle #821.
For readers who prefer solving away from a screen, the publisher also offers a Connections puzzle book, a book-form collection of the category-matching puzzles associated with puzzle editor Wyna Liu. You can also play Connections through NYT Games, subject to the service’s current access and subscription terms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What date was NYT Connections puzzle #821?
NYT Connections puzzle #821 was published for Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The New York Times releases the daily puzzle at midnight in each player’s local time zone, so the displayed date can depend on location.
What were the categories in Connections #821?
The four groups were Finished; Things with shells; Swig; and words that can be followed by “dog.”
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The Bottom Line
The solution to NYT Connections #821, dated September 9, 2025, is: COMPLETE, DONE, OVER, THROUGH for Finished; EGG, HARD TACO, M&M, SNAIL for Things with shells; BELT, GULP, SHOT, SLUG for Swig; and BULL, LAP, UNDER, WATCH for ___DOG.
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