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This is the archived NYT Connections puzzle for Friday, September 5, 2025, game #817—not the edition dated September 5, 2026. Spoiler-safe clues come first; the full categories and answers follow.
Hints for Connections #817
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. These clues reveal progressively more, so stop before the section that gives away more than you want.
- Yellow: Pleasantly sharp taste.
- Green: No ties.
- Blue: Boy beasts.
- Purple: Ruling groups in a specific country.
Answers for September 5, 2025
Spoilers below: the categories and all four words in each group are shown.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | PIQUANCY | KICK, PUNCH, ZEST, ZING |
| Green | AVAILABLE | FREE, SINGLE, SOLO, STAG |
| Blue | MALE ANIMALS | BILLY, BUCK, JACK, RAM |
| Purple | CHINESE DYNASTIES | HAN, MING, SONG, TANG |
Why STAG is the tricky word
STAG can mean a male deer, which makes it seem to fit with BILLY, BUCK, JACK, and RAM. In this puzzle, however, it means attending an event alone or without a date, placing it with FREE, SINGLE, and SOLO under AVAILABLE. TechRadar contributor Johnny Dee described falling for that animal-related misdirection: “STAG was my final downfall, as I included it alongside BILLY, BUCK and RAM instead of thinking it may have something to do with men attending social events without women.”
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How to approach the groups
- Consider more than one meaning for each word before submitting a set.
- If five words seem to fit a theme, check whether one of them has a second sense that belongs elsewhere.
- Use clues one group at a time if you want to preserve the challenge; revealing a category or its full word set gives away progressively more.
The guides describe the game as four groups of four words, with up to four mistakes allowed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Word Connect
- Daily Word Puzzle
- Learn New Words Everyday
- Brain Training Game
Rank #4
- Realistic physics simulation with challenging levels across beautiful world terrain and scenery
- Free offline fun for the whole family — casual and addictive arcade action for kids and adults
- Collect, match, and compete in open world adventure maps with powerups and boosters
- Unlock and upgrade characters, skins, and costumes with coins and rewards
- Dynamic themes with night, sunset, ocean, mountain, and city environments
Rank #2
- ➤ Super challenging brain game & word spelling game
- ➤ Over 6000 word puzzles that gradually increase puzzle difficulty
- ➤ No countdown, no competition, no failure. Just a pure word puzzle-solving experience makes you feel relaxed
- ➤ Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty and tranquility. Leave your worries behind, loosen up, and unwind
- ➤ Soothe mind by listening to calming background music while solving the word puzzles
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