Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is a clean one: four everyday categories that reward quick pattern spotting and a tiny bit of lateral thinking. 

Today’s puzzle is unapologetically tidy: four clear categories that reward quick pattern spotting and a little lateral thinking. Two groups are about texture and taste (paint finishes and “finest” synonyms), one dives into rock subgenres, and the last is a clever “types of beds” set that’s refreshingly literal. If you want a fast win, trust your brain — it knows what to do. Now go get it.

NYT Connections Puzzle: 8 October 2025 Overview

NYT Connections Hints: 8 October 2025

Category 1:
  • A soft, low-sheen option often used on walls.
  • Shiny and reflective — the kind mechanics brag about.
  • The non-reflective, photographer-friendly option.
  • A slightly shimmery finish with a pearly glow.
Category 2:
  • The absolute top pick — what you call the best of the best.
  • A dairy-y word used in phrases like “the ___ of the crop.”
  • A word that suggests luxurious, hand-selected choice.
  • Another word meaning chosen, prime, or specially selected.
Category 3:
  • A genre that lives on college radio and indie cred.
  • Big stages, big sound — arena anthems for thousands.
  • Timeless guitar-driven tunes classified as classic.
  • Raw, lo-fi energy — often coming out of cramped garages.
Category 4:
  • Where you plant bulbs and seedlings outside.
  • The flesh under your fingertip.
  • Shellfish farms often grow these in tidal ___s.
  • The channel carved by a flowing stream.

NYT Connections Answers: 8 October 2025

Category 1:
Category 2:
Category 3:
Category 4:

Solver’s Tip

Texture, ranking, music, and literal language — a satisfying mix of sensory and semantic groups.

Start with the visual/physical groups (paint finishes and beds) since those words are easy to picture. The “finest” synonyms are the next fastest — they cluster by meaning. Save the rock subgenres for last if you’re not a music nerd, but honestly — hum the words and you’ll feel the pattern click.