Today’s puzzle features explosive things, double-vowel words, potato-based items, and stain removers.
Several words create misleading connections, making some categories harder to identify quickly.
Careful grouping and attention to spelling patterns can help reveal all four answers.
The New York Times Connections puzzle for Sunday, August 23, challenged players to divide 16 words into four groups of four based on hidden links. While one category focused on potentially explosive things, the other groups involved double vowels, potato-based items, and household stain removers.
The puzzle also included several deliberate misdirects. Words such as 'vacuum' and 'vodka' could easily suggest more than one category, making the final grouping less obvious.
Players looking for an extra push before seeing the answers could use these category clues:
Yellow: Think of things that could go 'kaboom'.
Green: Look closely at words containing repeated vowels.
Blue: Think about foods, drinks, and other things made with potatoes.
Purple: Consider everyday household items that can help remove stains.
These clues narrow down the choices without immediately revealing all four groups.
For players who need just a little more help, one word from each category indicates where the puzzle is heading.
Yellow: POWDER KEG
Green: BAZAAR
Blue: VODKA
Purple: CLUB SODA
The remaining words become easier to place once these links are identified.
The four groups in the August 23 puzzle were:
Yellow: Potentially explosive things
Green: Double vowels
Blue: Made with potatoes
Purple: Household stain removers
The yellow group brings together things associated with explosions or sudden blasts. The green category relies on a less obvious spelling feature, while the blue group links foods and drinks that involve potatoes. The purple category includes common household substances used to tackle stains.
Yellow — Potentially Explosive Things
POWDER KEG
TIME BOMB
TINDERBOX
VOLCANO
These words refer to things that can trigger, contain, or represent an explosive event.
Green — Double Vowels
ANTIFREEZE
BAZAAR
SKIING
VACUUM
Each word contains a pair of consecutive vowels.
Blue — Made With Potatoes
HOME FRIES
POTATO BATTERY
VICHYSSOISE
VODKA
The four answers connect to potatoes either directly or as a key ingredient in their production.
Purple — Household Stain Removers
BAKING SODA
CLUB SODA
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
VINEGAR
These are commonly used household substances that can help clean or remove stains.
The puzzle included several misleading links. VODKA and CLUB SODA, for example, naturally appear connected, while the presence of VACUUM alongside other household items could pull players toward the wrong category.
The Green group was another easy category to overlook because 'double vowels' is based on spelling rather than meaning. Once BAZAAR and SKIING stood out, however, the remaining words became easier to sort.
Overall, the August 23 Connections puzzle mixed straightforward associations with a few clever traps. Identifying the more unusual categories first could help players solve the board without burning through all four mistakes.