Spoiler warning: Hints come first below, followed by the category names and full solution for the Monday, September 15, 2025 NYT Connections puzzle, game #827.
The 16 words
Start by looking for four sets of four words linked by a shared idea:
- BANK
- BANSHEE
- CARPET
- CHEMISTRY
- COAST
- CONNECTION
- FIREWORKS
- HEARTBREAKER
- LAMINATE
- PIP
- SHORE
- SPARK
- STRAND
- TILE
- WAILER
- WOOD
Hints, from subtle to revealing
Try each hint before moving to the next. The clues progress from broad associations toward a word that belongs in each group.
- Yellow: Like vinyl and cork.
- Green: Where she might sell seashells, or where you may find dunes.
- Blue: You either have it with someone or you don’t; having it with too many people could spell trouble.
- Purple: You couldn’t really ask for better backup.
One answer per group
If you want a stronger nudge without seeing the categories, the words are TILE, SHORE, CHEMISTRY, and HEARTBREAKER—one for each group.
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- FLOORING OPTIONS
- BEACHY AREA
- ROMANTIC VIBE
- MEMBER OF A CLASSIC BACKING BAND
Full answers for Connections #827
Flooring options
CARPET, LAMINATE, TILE, WOOD
Beachy area
BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND
Romantic vibe
CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS, SPARK
Member of a classic backing band
BANSHEE, HEARTBREAKER, PIP, WAILER
The last set points to Siouxsie and the Banshees, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Bob Marley and the Wailers. The puzzle’s intended groupings and hints are reported by Forbes and the full solution is also confirmed by TechRadar.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The tempting near-match
CONNECTION, STRAND, PIP, and TILE may suggest NYT Games titles with a final “s” removed, but that is a red herring, not a solution group. CONNECTION belongs with CHEMISTRY, FIREWORKS, and SPARK in the romantic-vibe category.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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