NYT Connections #877 was published on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. The grid includes several misleading overlaps—especially DOC, FILM, LEAF and SHEET—so look for exact phrases and technical file endings rather than broad associations.
Spoiler warning: the complete groups and explanations appear below the hints.
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Hints for Connections #877
Connections asks you to divide 16 words into four groups of four. The categories are color-coded from easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue and purple.
| Category | Hint | Gentle clue |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Point in the right direction | GUIDE |
| Green | A thin covering or layer | LEAF |
| Blue | Common filename endings | TIFF |
| Purple | Complete the phrase “___ guitar” | SLIDE |
The 16 words
AIR, COAT, DIRECT, DOC, DRIVE, ELECTRIC, FILM, GUIDE, LEAF, MID, PILOT, RHYTHM, SHEET, SLIDE, TIFF, ZIP
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Answers for NYT Connections #877
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 🟨 Yellow | Steer | DIRECT, DRIVE, GUIDE, PILOT |
| 🟩 Green | Thin layer | COAT, FILM, LEAF, SHEET |
| 🟦 Blue | File extensions | DOC, MID, TIFF, ZIP |
| 🟪 Purple | ___ guitar | AIR, ELECTRIC, RHYTHM, SLIDE |
Why the groups work
Yellow: Steer
DIRECT, DRIVE, GUIDE and PILOT can all mean to control, lead or determine the course of something. You can direct or guide a person, drive a vehicle, or pilot an aircraft.
Green: Thin layer
COAT, FILM, LEAF and SHEET can each describe a thin covering or layer. Examples include a coat of paint, a film over a surface, a leaf of gold and a sheet of ice.
Blue: File extensions
DOC, MID, TIFF and ZIP are filename endings. Written with their usual punctuation, they are .doc for a document, .mid for a MIDI file, .tiff for an image file and .zip for a compressed archive.
MID is the least familiar entry in this group. It is associated with MIDI files, which store musical performance information rather than a conventional recorded audio track.
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AIR GUITAR, ELECTRIC GUITAR, RHYTHM GUITAR and SLIDE GUITAR are the four intended phrases. This group is easier to confirm by completing the phrase than by looking for a shared dictionary definition.
Tricky overlaps in this grid
- Do not group DOC with FILM, LEAF and SHEET. Those four words can all evoke paper or a physical page, but DOC is needed for the file-extension category. The correct thin-layer group is COAT, FILM, LEAF and SHEET.
- AIR is not part of the steering group. It can suggest movement or music, but AIR GUITAR is the intended phrase.
- Treat MID as a filename ending. If the word looks unfamiliar, mentally add the period:
.mid. - Prefer natural phrases over loose meanings. Connections often places words in more than one plausible semantic neighborhood. A phrase that can be completed cleanly—such as “slide guitar”—is stronger evidence than a broad association.
A practical solving route
- Start with the four guitar phrases: AIR, ELECTRIC, RHYTHM and SLIDE. They form the purple group.
- Look for words that describe directing or controlling a course: DIRECT, DRIVE, GUIDE and PILOT.
- Among the remaining words, identify the physical-layer meanings: COAT, FILM, LEAF and SHEET.
- The four leftover words—DOC, MID, TIFF and ZIP—are file extensions.
One answer list circulated DOE instead of DOC for the file-extension group. The original word list and the other verified answer lists give DOC; “DOE” is not one of the 16 words in this puzzle.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
When was NYT Connections puzzle #877 published?
Connections #877 was published on Tuesday, November 4, 2025—not November 4, 2024.
What is the blue category in Connections #877?
The blue category is file extensions: DOC, MID, TIFF and ZIP.
Best Value
- Find hundreds of words in an easy to read format - Some words you'll spot easily, but you'll have to search hard for others.
- A wide range of puzzle topics, including movies, actors, sports, cars, and more!
- Variations on the standard word search puzzles are included for extra challenge.
- Answer key in the back of the book.
- Spiral bound, 192 pages.
Why does DOC belong with MID, TIFF and ZIP?
DOC is commonly used as a document filename extension, while MID is associated with MIDI files, TIFF with image files and ZIP with compressed archives.
What are the purple answers in Connections #877?
The purple group completes “___ guitar”: AIR, ELECTRIC, RHYTHM and SLIDE.
The Bottom Line
The solution to NYT Connections #877 is DIRECT, DRIVE, GUIDE, PILOT for “Steer”; COAT, FILM, LEAF, SHEET for “Thin layer”; DOC, MID, TIFF, ZIP for “File extensions”; and AIR, ELECTRIC, RHYTHM, SLIDE for “___ guitar.”
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