NYT Connections Hints September 28: NYT Puzzle #840 — Answers & Clues for players to keep the winning streak alive

Puzzle fans seeking a quick nudge for Connections Hints Today will find the solutions for The New York Times’ daily Connections game — puzzle #840, for Sunday, September 28, 2025, below. The four category clues and full answers are provided for solvers who want either a spoiler or a helping hand to preserve their streak.

Connections asks players to sort a 4×4 grid of 16 words into four thematic groups of four, each group colour-coded by difficulty from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple). The game has become a staple among word-puzzle aficionados since its launch, prized for deceptively simple rules that mask tricky associations.

NYT Connections Hints for Today’s Categories

Below are the Connections Hints Today, the brief nudges that point to the theme for each colour group on September 28:

• Yellow (easiest) — Safeguarding.
  
• Green — Malware.
  
• Blue — Chewing gums (brand names).
  
• Purple (hardest) — Logos of NFL teams.
  

SPOILER ALERT: stop reading if you prefer to solve unaided.

Answers for NYT Connections #840 (Sept 28, 2025)

For readers ready for the solutions, today’s groupings were:

• Yellow — BACKING / Safeguarding: AEGIS, GUARD, PROTECTION, SHIELD.
  
• Green — MALICIOUS SOFTWARE: BACKDOOR, TROJAN HORSE, VIRUS, WORM.
  
• Blue — GUM BRANDS: EXTRA, ICE BREAKERS, ORBIT, TRIDENT.
  
• Purple — N.F.L. TEAM LOGOS: BUFFALO, FLEUR-DE-LIS, HORSESHOE, LIGHTNING BOLT.
  

Many solvers reported that the blue gum-brand cluster offered an accessible early win, while the purple set — requiring recognition of stylised team motifs rather than simple words — cost more time. Outlets covering the puzzle described it as slightly trickier than average for some players, though reactions ranged from “fair” to “challenging.”

How hard was today’s puzzle?

Difficulty is subjective, but the mix of straightforward consumer-brand names and a more lateral thinking purple group put this grid around the mid-range for complexity. Habitual Connections players recommend hunting for the most obvious quartet first, then using elimination to expose trickier clusters.

Quick tips for solving Connections

1. Scan for clear sets first: Spotting a four-word family early reduces red herrings.
   
2. Beware of surface associations: Words that form familiar phrases are often deliberately split across categories.
   
3. Use Shuffle: The game’s shuffle can help reveal hidden patterns by changing visual context.
   
4. Mind your guesses: You have limited incorrect submissions — smart, not hasty, guessing is rewarded.
   

FAQs

What is NYT Connections?

Connections is a daily NYT word game that presents 16 words in a 4×4 grid; players must sort them into four groups of four that share a common link.

How many wrong guesses can I make?

Players may make up to three mistakes; a fourth incorrect grouping ends the game, so cautious guessing is advised.