NYT Connections Answer & Hints for September 10, 2025 — Puzzle #822

Stuck on today’s Connections? Below you’ll find an explanation of the puzzle, an alphabetical definitions table,
gentle hints, category titles, one “nudge” word per category, and the complete solution.

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About Today’s Connections Puzzle

Puzzle #822 (published September 10, 2025) asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four.

Definitions of the 16 Words

Alphabetical to avoid hinting at groups:

Word	Short definition
AKEEM	Prince Akeem, Eddie Murphy’s character in Coming to America.
BAD	Poor quality; used in mild rebuke (“my bad”).
BARREL	To move very fast; also a large cylindrical container.
CAKE	Sweet baked dessert; also part of the phrase “King Cake.”
COBRA	Venomous snake; also fits the phrase “King Cobra.”
DOLITTLE	Dr. Dolittle, a character played by Eddie Murphy.
DONKEY	Murphy-voiced character in Shrek.
FLY	Move quickly through the air; go very fast.
FOLEY	Detective Axel Foley, Eddie Murphy’s character in Beverly Hills Cop.
KONG	Giant ape character; fits “King Kong.”
RACE	To compete in speed; to go quickly.
SHAME	Mild scolding or reproach.
TSK	Clicking sound showing disapproval.
TUT	Interjection of mild disapproval.
TUT TUT	Repeated “tut” for stronger rebuke; also fits “King Tut.”
ZIP	To move very fast.