This is the archived solution for NYT Connections puzzle #821, published for Tuesday, September 9, 2025—not a current daily puzzle. The four groups are finished, things with shells, swig, and words that form compounds with “dog.” Full answers follow.
Hints for Connections #821
- One group contains words that can mean finished or ended.
- Another combines natural shells with a crisp shell and a candy coating.
- Think of informal words associated with taking or consuming a drink.
- For the last group, add the same word after each entry to make a familiar kind of dog.
All 16 words on the September 9 board
SLUG, EGG, COMPLETE, BULL, LAP, SNAIL, WATCH, BELT, OVER, UNDER, THROUGH, HARD TACO, DONE, GULP, M&M, SHOT.
Connections #821 answers
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Finished | COMPLETE, DONE, OVER, THROUGH | Each can indicate that something is finished or ended. |
| Things with shells | EGG, HARD TACO, M&M, SNAIL | An egg and a snail have shells; a hard taco has a crisp shell, and an M&M has a candy coating. |
| Swig | BELT, GULP, SHOT, SLUG | These are informal words associated with taking or consuming a drink. |
| ___DOG | BULL, LAP, UNDER, WATCH | Each makes a familiar compound when followed by “dog”: bulldog, lapdog, underdog, and watchdog. |
Why the word groups can be tricky
Finished versus directional words
COMPLETE, DONE, and OVER make the “finished” idea direct. THROUGH is less immediate, and OVER, UNDER, and THROUGH can also invite other associations, making it easier to miss how the words divide across categories.
Shells and coatings
The shell category spans different meanings: a biological covering, a crisp taco exterior, and the candy coating on an M&M. The connection is not limited to animal shells.
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Informal drinking words
BELT, GULP, SHOT, and SLUG belong together through their association with taking or consuming a drink; the grouping is based on informal usage rather than one shared literal object.
Complete the compound
Read the final category as a fill-in pattern: BULLDOG, LAPDOG, UNDERDOG, and WATCHDOG. Each board entry comes before the same word, DOG.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Sources for the archived solution
The board and category answers are corroborated by TechRadar’s September 9, 2025 Connections guide and Parade’s September 9, 2025 answer guide. These are editorial answer guides, not official NYT statements.
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