ByAnish
NYT Connections Sept 21 Hints & Answers #833 (Full Guide)
Today’s NYT Connections #833: Sunday Wordplay Challenge
The NYT Connections puzzle for September 21, 2025 (#833) delivers the perfect Sunday challenge. True to tradition, the grid balances straightforward categories with a clever purple group twist involving vegetables missing their first letters.
Sunday Connections are often trickier than weekday versions, demanding more patience and creative wordplay skills. Players should watch for letter manipulation traps, especially in the purple set where “ale,” “eek,” and “hive” transform into vegetables once restored.
This guide provides both gradual hints for spoiler-averse solvers and complete answers for those stuck. Let’s break it down group by group.
Yellow Group: Touchscreen Gestures
Today’s yellow category leaned on modern tech lingo. Each word describes a basic smartphone or tablet gesture:
- Pinch – zoom in/out on screens.
- Scroll – move vertically or horizontally through content.
- Swipe – slide across apps or images.
- Tap – select with a single touch.
This category is a nice nod to everyday digital habits, making it accessible even for casual gamers.
Green Group: Ways to Relax
In contrast, the green group offered laid-back vibes:
- Chill – hang out calmly.
- Loaf – do nothing productive.
- Lounge – recline and take it easy.
- Veg – short for “vegetate,” meaning relax passively.
This set worked nicely for a Sunday puzzle theme, perfectly capturing weekend energy.
Blue Group: Restaurant Seating Options
Dining terminology shaped the blue category:
- Bar – high stools at the counter.
- Booth – cushioned, semi-private seating.
- Counter – quick-service setup.
- Table – standard restaurant choice.
For foodies and frequent diners, this group was straightforward—a refreshing break from wordplay-heavy categories.
Purple Group: Vegetables with First Letter Removed
The purple category was today’s trickiest set. Each answer looks strange until you restore its missing first letter:
- Ale → Kale
- Eek → Leek
- Hive → Chive
- Quash → Squash
This clever manipulation showcases why Sunday Connections puzzles are both beloved and challenging.
Progressive Hints for Connections #833
If you’d rather nudge your way to the solution, here’s a tiered hint system:
- Easy hint: Look for words tied to everyday phone use.
- Medium hint: Some answers are about how you spend downtime.
- Tough hint: Strange words may become vegetables when “fixed.”
These gradual clues let solvers enjoy the puzzle without instant spoilers.
Sunday Wordplay Strategy Tips
Sunday puzzles often feature word manipulation tricks. To improve your solve rate:
- Spot oddballs – Strange-looking words often hide transformations.
- Think thematically – Tech, food, and lifestyle are common categories.
- Test groupings – If a set feels “almost right,” one word may belong elsewhere.
- Save purple for last – It’s usually the most deceptive.
Applying these strategies helps players build confidence across tricky weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are the categories for NYT Connections #833, September 21?
Yellow: Touchscreen gestures (pinch, scroll, swipe, tap).
Green: Relax (chill, loaf, lounge, veg).
Blue: Restaurant seating options (bar, booth, counter, table).
Purple: Vegetables with first letter removed (ale/kale, eek/leek, hive/chive, quash/squash).
Q2: How does the purple vegetable wordplay work?
Each word becomes a vegetable when you add back the first letter: ale→kale, eek→leek, hive→chive, quash→squash.
Q3: What makes Sunday Connections puzzles more challenging?
They often feature letter manipulation, anagrams, or unusual wordplay twists that require deeper thinking.
Q4: Which touchscreen gestures are included?
Pinch, scroll, swipe, and tap—the most common interactions on phones and tablets.
Q5: Why is ‘veg’ in the relax category?
“Veg” is slang for vegetate, meaning to relax passively, often in front of a TV.
Conclusion
The NYT Connections #833 (September 21, 2025) puzzle blended tech terms, relaxation slang, dining references, and vegetable wordplay for a lively Sunday challenge.
While the yellow and green groups were straightforward, the purple set’s letter manipulation pushed solvers to think creatively. For many, it showcased the clever depth of Sunday puzzles.
If you enjoyed today’s Connections, check out:
Get ready—Monday’s puzzle will reset the difficulty, but the clever wordplay continues.
