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NYT Connections puzzle #853, from Saturday, October 11, 2025, groups its 16 words around equipment, getting dressed, street suffixes, and nicknames with other meanings. Start with the spoiler-safe hints below; the full groups and answers follow.
Hints for Connections #853
These clues follow the puzzle’s four category themes without listing the answer words.
- Things you keep in a toolbox.
- Fit check!
- Wisteria ____.
- Names that happen to be a double entendre.
Answers for Saturday, October 11, 2025
Here are the four completed groups for puzzle #853:
- EQUIPMENT: GEAR, KIT, STUFF, TACKLE
- DRESS IN: DON, PUT ON, SPORT, WEAR
- STREET SUFFIXES: ALLEY, COURT, LANE, WAY
- NICKNAMES THAT HAVE OTHER MEANINGS: BILL, BOB, PAT, TOM
How the clues connect to the groups
- The toolbox clue points to EQUIPMENT.
- “Fit check!” points to DRESS IN: each answer can mean putting on clothing.
- “Wisteria ____” completes with a kind of street designation, leading to STREET SUFFIXES.
- The final clue refers to familiar names that also have other meanings: BILL, BOB, PAT, and TOM.
Parade’s dated guide identifies the puzzle as #853 and provides the four hints and category themes (Parade, October 11, 2025). YourDictionary WordFinder’s archive independently lists October 11, 2025 as #853 and gives the same answer groups (YourDictionary WordFinder archive).
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