October 5, 2025’s NYT Connections features car pairings, houseplant essentials, words that mean “astonish,” and four Madonna hits. Try the clues, then check answers and strategy here.
Today’s NYT Connections grid is cozy and tidy — equal parts domestic and wordplay. Today’s puzzle is a satisfying little mashup: car types, gardening basics, words that mean “astonish,” and a quartet of Madonna hits. It’s friendly to skimmers (two straightforward groups) and still gives your brain a playful nudge with the verb cluster. Solve fast, celebrate louder — you earned it.
NYT Connections Puzzle: 5 October 2025 Overview
NYT Connections Hints: 5 October 2025
Category 1:
- You might ride one at the fair — it bumps you around.
- Packed tight onstage in a circus bit — way too many inside.
- The getaway vehicle in every heist movie.
- The sporty model built for speed — often two-door.
Category 2:
- Where roots get their footing.
- The dry factor you add before it becomes a plant.
- The wet stuff—obviously nonnegotiable.
- The very first stage — a tiny beginning.
Category 3:
- To astonish so much you metaphorically drop someone to the ground.
- To overwhelm with force or surprise — also to jolt rhythmically.
- To move violently back and forth, often used metaphorically.
- To stun or outrage; often paired with “in” or “by.”
Category 4:
- A jubilant early hit encouraging you to dance and celebrate.
- A moody, ethereal ballad with cinematic strings.
- A sun-drenched pop single that’s holiday-themed.
- A later anthem celebrating sound and rhythm.
NYT Connections Answers: 5 October 2025
Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:
Final Notes & Solving Tip
This one rewards quick pattern-spotting: the gardening words are immediate, the Madonna group jumps out if you hum a few bars, and the “___ car” set is the classic fill-in-the-blank reveal. The only slightly trickier bunch is the “flabbergast” verbs — read them as actions (think: they do something to you) and the group snaps into view.
