NYT Connections Answer Today (#831) – 19 Sep 2025 Solution & Hints

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.
Use the table of contents to jump to what you need.

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What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word grouping puzzle from The New York Times.
Your goal is to sort 16 words into 4 groups of 4, based on hidden connections.
Categories range from simple themes to clever wordplay, with some words acting as red herrings.

The 16 Words

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

Blush
Clip
Dye
Fidget
Grade
Mascara
Nose
Pace
Paper
Rank
Rate
Score
Sweat
Stockings
Tiger
Towel
Trail

Definitions of the 16 Words

Blush	To redden in the face, often from nervousness or embarrassment.
Clip	Paper clip; an office supply item.
Dye	Substance used to color fabric or hair; can “run” when wet.
Fidget	To move nervously or restlessly.
Grade	A mark or score evaluating performance.
Mascara	Makeup for eyelashes; can run when wet.
Nose	Facial feature; can “run.”
Pace	To walk back and forth nervously.
Paper	Forms compound phrases: paper clip, paper tiger, paper towel, paper trail.
Rank	Position in a hierarchy; also a way to evaluate.
Rate	To evaluate or assess something numerically.
Score	A numerical expression of performance; to evaluate.
Sweat	To perspire; can happen from nervousness.
Stockings	Clothing for the legs; can “run.”
Tiger	As in “paper tiger,” something that appears threatening but is ineffective.
Towel	Absorbent cloth; as in “paper towel.”
Trail	A path; as in “paper trail,” meaning documented evidence.

General Hints

One group relates to evaluation and judgment.
Another shows signs of nervousness.
A set involves things that can run in different senses.
The final category is compound phrases with “paper.”

Category Titles

🟨 Yellow: Evaluate
🟩 Green: Exhibit Nervousness
🟦 Blue: Things That Can Run, Annoyingly
🟪 Purple: Paper ___

One Word per Category

🟨 Yellow: Grade
🟩 Green: Blush
🟦 Blue: Mascara
🟪 Purple: Clip

Complete Solution

🟨 Yellow: Evaluate → GRADE, RANK, RATE, SCORE
🟩 Green: Exhibit Nervousness → BLUSH, FIDGET, PACE, SWEAT
🟦 Blue: Things That Can Run, Annoyingly → DYE, MASCARA, NOSE, STOCKINGS
🟪 Purple: Paper ___ → CLIP, TIGER, TOWEL, TRAIL

Congrats if you solved it! Which category slowed you down today?

Difficulty Today

Today’s puzzle felt medium-hard. The “Evaluate” group was clear,
but “Things That Can Run” was tricky thanks to its multiple meanings.

Tricky or Misleading Words

Nose — easy to overlook as part of “things that run.”
Tiger — misleading unless you spot the “paper ___” theme.
Sweat — could fit both nervousness and physical exertion.

Strategy Tips

When you see odd or literal words like “tiger” or “trail,” test compound phrases.
For tricky categories like “run,” think broadly: cosmetics, clothing, and body parts all came into play.