NYT Connections Sept 25 Hints & Answers #837 (Full Guide)

Introduction

Thursday’s NYT Connections puzzle (#837) is a fun and diverse challenge that blends politics, food culture, cinema, and mythology. Solvers had to navigate categories ranging from left-leaning political terms to ice cream parlor orders, all while spotting a set of Matt Damon movies with “The” in the title and multiple references to Apollo.

If you’re stuck, don’t worry. Below we provide progressive hints first, followed by the complete answers for those who want to check their work or keep their streak alive. Consider this your spoiler-safe zone: hints first, answers later.

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Today’s Connections #837: Diverse Thursday Topics

Connections #837 stands out for its multi-domain mix. You’ll need cultural awareness, movie trivia, political vocabulary, and even some space and mythology knowledge. Here’s a quick overview before diving into hints:

• Yellow group: Political terms
• Green group: Ice cream orders
• Blue group: Matt Damon movies
• Purple group: Apollo references

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Yellow Group: Left-Leaning Political Terms

Category: Left-leaning politically

• Words: BLUE, LEFT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE

These are all terms commonly used to describe U.S. politics. Blue refers to Democratic states, liberal and progressive reflect ideologies, and left is the opposite of right-wing politics.

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Green Group: Ice Cream Parlor Orders

Category: Ice cream parlor orders

• Words: CONE, CUP, SHAKE, SPLIT

Classic items from any ice cream shop menu. From cones and cups to shakes and banana splits, this was the sweet (and nostalgic) set of the day.

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Blue Group: Matt Damon Movies with “The”

Category: Matt Damon movies starting with “The”

• Words: DEPARTED, GOOD SHEPHERD, MARTIAN, RAINMAKER

All four are films featuring Matt Damon that begin with “The”:

• The Departed (2006)
• The Good Shepherd (2006)
• The Martian (2015)
• The Rainmaker (1997)

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Purple Group: Named “Apollo”

Category: Named Apollo

• Words: BOXER, GOD, SPACECRAFT, THEATER

This group stretches across mythology, history, and culture:

• Apollo the Greek/Roman god of the arts and prophecy
• Apollo the NASA space program that took humans to the Moon
• Apollo the fictional boxer Apollo Creed in Rocky
• Apollo Theater, the legendary Harlem venue

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Progressive Hints and Category Strategy

If you prefer hints before answers:

• Yellow hint: Think politics and the color opposite of red.
• Green hint: You might find these at Dairy Queen.
• Blue hint: Matt Damon’s filmography holds the key—look for “The.”
• Purple hint: Myth, space, boxing, and performance share a divine name.

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Multi-Domain Puzzle Solving Strategies

Thursday’s puzzle was tricky because of its topic diversity. Here are some strategies to help with future challenges:

1. Spot the obvious category: Food terms (like cone and shake) often jump out first.
2. Use cultural knowledge: Movie and political references rely heavily on pop culture literacy.
3. Cross-check overlap: Words like “blue” could fit multiple sets (politics vs color themes), so test connections carefully.
4. Keep flexible thinking: Apollo spans multiple domains, so don’t get locked into one interpretation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the categories for NYT Connections #837, September 25?

• Yellow: Left-leaning politically (BLUE, LEFT, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE)
• Green: Ice cream parlor orders (CONE, CUP, SHAKE, SPLIT)
• Blue: Matt Damon movies with “The” (DEPARTED, GOOD SHEPHERD, MARTIAN, RAINMAKER)
• Purple: Named “Apollo” (BOXER, GOD, SPACECRAFT, THEATER)

Which Matt Damon movies are featured in today’s puzzle?

The four Matt Damon films are The Departed, The Good Shepherd, The Martian, and The Rainmaker.

What are the different things named “Apollo”?

Apollo can refer to a Greek/Roman god, NASA’s Apollo program, Apollo Creed from Rocky, and the Apollo Theater.

Why is “blue” in the political left-leaning category?

In U.S. politics, blue refers to the Democratic Party and liberal-leaning states, opposite of red for conservative states.

What makes today’s puzzle particularly diverse?

It spans four very different knowledge areas: politics, food, cinema, and mythology/history.

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Conclusion

Connections #837 (September 25, 2025) showcased the breadth of cultural references that make this puzzle so addictive. From ordering an ice cream cone to spotting Apollo in space, boxing, and mythology, plus identifying iconic Matt Damon movies, this set was both challenging and rewarding.

Many players found the average difficulty moderate thanks to the recognizable movie and food groups, though the Apollo category tripped up some. Tomorrow’s Friday puzzle promises another fresh challenge—stay tuned!