NYT Connections Answer & Hints for September 4, 2025 — Puzzle #816

Stuck on today’s Connections? Below you’ll find an intro, full definitions of all 16 words, spoiler-light hints, category titles, one word from each group, and the complete solution.

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About Today’s Connections Puzzle

Puzzle #816 (published September 4, 2025) combines French food words, photo editing terms, Christmas tree decorations, and things that literally or figuratively have “cells.”

Definitions of the 16 Words

Alphabetical order to avoid hinting at groupings:

Word	Short definition
AIRBRUSH	A tool that sprays paint finely; in photo editing, to smooth out flaws.
ANGEL	A spiritual being; also a common Christmas tree topper.
CANDY CANE	Striped peppermint candy shaped like a cane; a Christmas decoration.
CORNICHON	French for a small pickled cucumber (gherkin).
FIX	To repair or adjust; in photo editing, to correct imperfections.
HONEYCOMB	A structure of hexagonal wax cells made by bees.
ORGANISM	A living being composed of one or many cells.
PAIN	French for “bread.”
PAMPLEMOUSSE	French for “grapefruit.”
PHOTOSHOP	Adobe software for editing and retouching images.
SOLAR PANEL	A device made of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity.
SPREADSHEET	A digital document made up of rows and columns of cells (e.g., Excel).
STRING LIGHTS	Small electric lights connected by wire; often used on Christmas trees.
TINSEL	Shiny strips used as Christmas tree decoration.
TOUCH UP	To make minor improvements, often in editing or repair.
VINAIGRETTE	French dressing made of oil and vinegar, often with seasoning.

General Hints

One group: French culinary vocabulary.
Another: words for photo retouching and editing.
One set: festive Christmas tree decorations.
The last: things made up of or described by “cells.”

Category Titles

🟦 French food words
🟩 Clean up, as a photograph
🟨 What you might see on a Christmas tree
🟪 Things with cells

One Word From Each Category

🟦 PAIN
🟩 PHOTOSHOP
🟨 TINSEL
🟪 SPREADSHEET

Full Solution

NYT Connections #816 — Full Groups

🟦 French food words → CORNICHON, PAIN, PAMPLEMOUSSE, VINAIGRETTE
🟩 Clean up, as a photograph → AIRBRUSH, FIX, PHOTOSHOP, TOUCH UP
🟨 What you might see on a Christmas tree → ANGEL, CANDY CANE, STRING LIGHTS, TINSEL
🟪 Things with cells → HONEYCOMB, ORGANISM, SOLAR PANEL, SPREADSHEET

The “cells” category is a clever twist — spanning biology, tech, and even Excel spreadsheets!

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