NYT Connections Answer & Hints for September 15, 2025 — Puzzle #827

Stuck on today’s Connections? Below you’ll find an explanation of the puzzle, quick definitions for every word, gentle hints, the exact category titles, a single “nudge” word from each group, and (hidden) the complete solution.
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About Today’s Connections

This is puzzle #827, published on September 15, 2025.
Your task is to sort 16 words into 4 groups of 4 based on their hidden connections.

The 16 Words

Here are the 16 words, sorted alphabetically to avoid spoilers:

Bank
Banshee
Carpet
Chemistry
Coast
Connection
Fireworks
Heartbreaker
Laminate
Pip
Shore
Spark
Strand
Tile
Wailer
Wood

Definitions of the 16 Words

Bank	The land alongside a body of water; also a financial institution.
Banshee	A wailing spirit from Irish folklore; also name of a backing band member.
Carpet	Thick woven floor covering.
Chemistry	A natural connection between people; also a science of matter.
Coast	The land along the sea or ocean.
Connection	A relationship or bond between people or things.
Fireworks	Explosive visual displays; metaphor for romance or excitement.
Heartbreaker	A member of Tom Petty’s backing band; also one who causes heartbreak.
Laminate	Layered flooring material, often resembling wood.
Pip	As in Gladys Knight & the Pips, a backing band member; also a small seed.
Shore	The edge of land near a body of water.
Spark	A small flash of fire; metaphor for attraction or excitement.
Strand	Beach or shoreline; also a single thread or fiber.
Tile	Flat ceramic or stone flooring piece.
Wailer	As in Bob Marley and the Wailers, a backing band member.
Wood	Hard fibrous material from trees; also a flooring type.