Today’s  NYT Connections is breezy and satisfying — four clean categories that fall into place once you spot one obvious member. Two groups are super literal (cards and remote-controlled things), one is sporty (NBA teams), and one is a straight synonym set for “take on.” If you like quick wins, start with the tangible groups and use them to narrow the rest.

Below you’ll find four clues for each category (try them before looking at answers), the final solutions, a short excerpt, and a quick solving tip.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 20 October 2025

NYT Connections Hints: 21 October 2025

Category 1:
  • A team whose name evokes an insect that stings.
  • A team linked to a dairy animal and a championship core.
  • A team known for its windy-city grit and championships.
  • A team named for mounted cavalry or military units.
Category 2:
  • The highest single pip card in many games.
  • The face card that usually wears a crown and rules a suit.
  • The face card that’s often paired with jesters in phraseology.
  • Royal court cards that come in four suits.
Category 3:
  • You might send one airborne and control it from your couch.
  • The automatic entry you click open from your car.
  • The screen you switch between shows and streaming apps.
  • A Nintendo console famously controlled with a motion remote.
Category 4:
  • A word meaning to assume responsibility or to reply to something.
  • A short word meaning “performs” or “carries out.”
  • Another verb meaning to deal with or manage a problem.
  • A word meaning to tackle or confront a challenge head-on.

NYT Connections Answers: 21 October 2025

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

Final Thought

This one rewards picturing real objects and simple synonyms. Lock in the playing-cards and remote-controlled-device groups first (they’re the most concrete), then use the remaining words to identify the NBA team cluster and the synonyms-for-“takes on.” Say the short verbs out loud if you get stuck — sometimes hearing them clarifies the category.