On Friday, October 17, 2025, word game enthusiasts across the globe tuned in for their daily challenge: the New York Times Connections puzzle, number 859. As always, the game presented players with sixteen seemingly unrelated words, daring them to uncover hidden links and sort them into four thematic groups. But what was different about today’s puzzle? Let’s take a closer look at the words, the categories, and why so many people find themselves hooked on this modern classic of wordplay.
The New York Times Connections puzzle, launched as a daily feature, has quickly become a staple for those who love a mental workout. Each day, the Times releases a fresh set of sixteen words, and players must group them into four categories based on a shared theme. It sounds simple, but the beauty—and the challenge—lies in the ambiguity. The categories can be straightforward or devilishly tricky, sometimes hinging on wordplay or double meanings. According to Lifehacker, the October 17 puzzle was no exception, presenting a mix of easy and challenging groupings that kept players on their toes.
The sixteen words provided for puzzle #859 were: TOM THUMB, MAGNET, CLICKER, JACK, POSTCARD, HEAT INDEX, WIND CHILL, LASER POINTER, KEY RING, CHICKEN LITTLE, THUMBELINA, FIGURINE, SLIDES, BEAUFORT SCALE, PROJECTOR, and DEWPOINT. At first glance, these words seem to have little in common. But as seasoned Connections players know, the trick is to look beyond the obvious.
For those seeking a nudge in the right direction, both Lifehacker and HerZindagi offered hints and strategies. The yellow category, they noted, was the most straightforward: items typically used during a presentation. The green category included items found in a souvenir shop. The blue category featured names from folktales, while the purple category was made up of weather-related terms. These clues provided a gentle push for those stumped by the initial word jumble.
So, how did the words break down into their respective groups? The yellow category, described as “USED DURING A PRESENTATION” by Lifehacker, included CLICKER, LASER POINTER, PROJECTOR, and SLIDES. These are all tools familiar to anyone who’s ever given a talk or sat through a lecture. As HerZindagi explained, these are “devices or tools you might use in a talk or lecture,” making this category a bit of a gimme for most players.
The green category, labeled “ITEMS IN A SOUVENIR SHOP,” comprised FIGURINE, KEY RING, MAGNET, and POSTCARD. Anyone who’s traveled, even just to a neighboring city, has likely seen these trinkets in gift shops. HerZindagi described them as “small keepsakes you buy while travelling.” It’s a category that evokes memories of vacations and the little mementos we collect along the way.
The blue category, “FOLKTALE CHARACTERS,” was a bit trickier. This group consisted of CHICKEN LITTLE, JACK, THUMBELINA, and TOM THUMB. These names are instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up with fairy tales or children’s books. As Lifehacker pointed out, the challenge here was to avoid being misled by the finger-related words—after all, TOM THUMB, KEY RING, CHICKEN LITTLE, and LASER POINTER all contain references to fingers, but only some truly fit the folktale theme. HerZindagi summed it up as “names or figures from fairy tales and folklore,” a nod to the timeless stories that continue to captivate young and old alike.
Finally, the purple category, “WEATHER TERMS,” included BEAUFORT SCALE, DEWPOINT, HEAT INDEX, and WIND CHILL. This was considered the hardest group to identify. As Lifehacker explained, these are all meteorological measurements or phenomena. The Beaufort Scale, for instance, is used to measure wind speed on land or at sea, while the dewpoint, heat index, and wind chill are all familiar to anyone who’s checked a weather report. HerZindagi called them “words connected to meteorological measurements or phenomena,” drawing attention to the scientific underpinnings of everyday weather talk.
Behind the scenes, the Connections puzzle is carefully crafted to challenge players’ pattern recognition skills. The New York Times, as reported by both Lifehacker and HerZindagi, ensures that each day’s puzzle features categories of varying difficulty, from the straightforward (yellow) to the truly perplexing (purple). The color-coding system—yellow for easiest, green for medium, blue for hard, and purple for trickiest—adds an extra layer of strategy, as players often tackle the easier groups first before working their way up to the more challenging ones.
What makes Connections so addictive? For many, it’s the thrill of the “aha!” moment when a hidden link is finally uncovered. Lifehacker shared some tips for success: look for words that don’t seem to fit anywhere else, consider possible double meanings, and don’t be afraid to reshuffle the board for a new perspective. HerZindagi echoed this advice, suggesting that players “pair similar ones first, then look for hidden meanings or themes.” Both sources agree that daily practice sharpens the mind and improves one’s ability to spot patterns quickly.
The October 17 puzzle, according to both outlets, was a textbook example of Connections at its best. The categories were well-balanced, with enough variety to keep things interesting but not so obscure as to be discouraging. Players who solved the puzzle reported a satisfying sense of accomplishment, especially if they managed to avoid the common pitfalls—like grouping words by surface similarities rather than deeper connections.
For those new to the game, the rules are simple: select four words that share a common theme and submit your guess. If you’re correct, the category and its color are revealed. Make four mistakes, though, and the game ends—forcing you to wait until the next day for another shot. As Lifehacker noted, “the groupings are designed to be tricky,” and even experienced players can be caught off guard by a clever twist.
It’s not just about winning, though. Many players enjoy the communal aspect of Connections, sharing hints, strategies, and even frustrations with friends and fellow fans online. Both Lifehacker and HerZindagi encourage readers to check back daily for new puzzles and fresh tips, making Connections as much a social experience as a solitary one.
As the sun set on October 17, 2025, thousands of players had cracked the code of puzzle #859, grouping CLICKER, LASER POINTER, PROJECTOR, and SLIDES as presentation tools; FIGURINE, KEY RING, MAGNET, and POSTCARD as souvenir items; CHICKEN LITTLE, JACK, THUMBELINA, and TOM THUMB as folktale characters; and BEAUFORT SCALE, DEWPOINT, HEAT INDEX, and WIND CHILL as weather terms. It was another day of mental gymnastics, small victories, and the promise of a new challenge tomorrow. For fans of Connections, that’s more than enough reason to come back for another round.
