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.