ByAnish
NYT Connections September 19 Hints & Answers #831
Introduction
September 19, 2025 brings us NYT Connections puzzle #831, and this one has a mix of straightforward and head-scratching categories. If you breezed through the yellow “evaluate” set, you probably found the blue and purple groups trickier. “Things that can run, annoyingly” and the classic “paper ____” fill-in phrases had players second-guessing their choices.
For those who like to avoid spoilers, we’ll start with progressive hints before revealing the full set of answers. If you’re here for the complete solution, scroll ahead to see every category breakdown with explanations. Whether you’re a daily streak player, casual solver, or simply curious about today’s puzzle themes, this guide gives you hints, answers, and strategies to approach Connections #831 with confidence.
Today’s NYT Connections #831: Overview and Theme Hints
Today’s puzzle balances easy recognition words with a few sneaky traps:
- ???? Yellow (easy): Words tied to evaluation/judgment.
- ???? Green (medium): Ways someone might show nervousness.
- ???? Blue (hard): Everyday things that can “run”, but in an annoying way.
- ???? Purple (tricky): Phrases that begin with “paper ____.”
If you struggled, don’t worry — the puzzle was designed to make you think about alternate meanings of “run” and common compound phrases.
Yellow Group: Evaluate
- Words: Grade, Rank, Rate, Score
This is the most straightforward set. Each word relates to measuring or judging performance — think about school grades, ranking in competitions, rating a product, or scoring a game.
Green Group: Exhibit Nervousness
- Words: Blush, Fidget, Pace, Sweat
This category highlights physical reactions to stress or anxiety. While “pace” might trick some into thinking it belonged in “things that run,” here it refers to pacing nervously back and forth.
Blue Group: Things That Can Run, Annoyingly
- Words: Dye, Mascara, Nose, Stockings
This is the set that tripped up many solvers. Each item is something that can literally “run” in an inconvenient way: - Dye runs when mixed with water.
- Mascara runs with tears or humidity.
- Nose runs when you’re sick.
- Stockings run when they tear.
Purple Group: Paper _____
- Words: Clip, Tiger, Towel, Trail
Classic fill-in-the-blank wordplay: - Paperclip (stationery item).
- Papertiger (something that seems threatening but is harmless).
- Papertowel (cleaning supply).
- Papertrail (documented evidence).
Progressive Hints for Connections #831
Want to nudge yourself without seeing full answers? Here’s a step-by-step hint path:
- Easiest (Yellow): Think about how teachers and critics measure performance.
- Medium (Green): What physical reactions happen when you’re nervous?
- Hard (Blue): Consider everyday messes or annoyances involving the word “run.”
- Trickiest (Purple): Add “paper” in front of these to form common words or phrases.
Strategy Tips for Tough Connections Days
- Spot synonyms first. Words like grade, rank, rate, score stand out.
- Check alternate meanings. “Run” doesn’t always mean sprint; it can mean smear, drip, or tear.
- Look for wordplay. Puzzles often include compound word categories like today’s “paper ____.”
- Save guesses wisely. Use easy sets first so you have fewer distractions later.
For more practice, see our daily guides for Wordle and NYT Strands.
???? More Daily Puzzle Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the categories for NYT Connections #831, September 19?
A: Yellow: Evaluate (grade, rank, rate, score). Green: Exhibit Nervousness (blush, fidget, pace, sweat). Blue: Things That Can Run, Annoyingly (dye, mascara, nose, stockings). Purple: Paper ____ (clip, tiger, towel, trail).
Q: What made today’s Connections puzzle tricky?
A: The blue set (“things that can run”) was deceptive, as words like pace and rate seemed like candidates but belonged elsewhere.
Q: How does grouping work in NYT Connections?
A: Players must divide 16 words into 4 hidden categories of 4 words each. Success comes from spotting synonyms, common phrases, or shared traits.
Q: Where can I find more Connections puzzles?
A: Play directly on the NYT Games site or browse archives via puzzle-focused communities like Connections Bot.
Conclusion
NYT Connections #831 (September 19, 2025) was a classic mix of easy-to-spot evaluation terms and trickier lateral-thinking categories. If you nailed yellow and green but stumbled on blue and purple, you weren’t alone.
Key takeaways:
- Watch out for misleading “run” words.
- Remember compound phrases like paper ____ show up often.
- Build solving stamina by practicing across puzzles like Connections archives and daily sports edition.
See you tomorrow for Connections #832, and may your streak stay unbroken!
