NYT Connections Answer & Hints for September 13, 2025 — Puzzle #825

Stuck on today’s Connections? Below you’ll find the full word list, quick definitions for every word, gentle hints, the exact category titles, a single “nudge” word from each group, and the complete solution.

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About Today’s Connections Puzzle

Puzzle #825 (published September 13, 2025) mixes synonyms for importance, secret/private ideas, international money, and a wordplay set based on “Buffalo ___”.

Today’s 16 Words

Alphabetical order to avoid hinting at groupings:

BILL, CRITICAL, DOLLAR, INNER
KEY, MAJOR, NICKEL, PERSONAL
POUND, PRINCIPAL, PRIVATE, SECRET
SOLDIER, STERLING, WING, WON

Definitions of the 16 Words

Word	Short definition
BILL	A banknote; also a proposed law or a bird’s beak. (Here: “Buffalo Bill”)
CRITICAL	Of great importance; also, involving judgment or analysis.
DOLLAR	Basic unit of currency in the U.S. and other countries.
INNER	Located inside; relating to one’s internal feelings.
KEY	Essential or crucial; also, a device for unlocking.
MAJOR	Important; also a military rank or academic field of study.
NICKEL	A U.S. five-cent coin; also a silvery metal. (Here: “Buffalo Nickel”)
PERSONAL	Private; relating directly to an individual.
POUND	British currency; also a unit of weight.
PRINCIPAL	Main or most important; also a school leader or loan amount.
PRIVATE	Kept secret or not for public knowledge.
SECRET	Something hidden or unknown by others.
SOLDIER	A member of the armed forces. (Here: “Buffalo Soldier”)
STERLING	British currency; also means of excellent quality.
WING	Part of a bird/insect used for flight; also a building extension. (Here: “Buffalo Wing”)
WON	The basic unit of currency in South Korea and North Korea.