The yellow group provides weather terms—with STORM and DRIZZLE being prime examples.
The green group offers the domain of musical and rhythm-related vocab, such as BEAT and TEMPO.
The blue group holds phrases with the word "IN" in them—locking in, checking in.
The purple group shows an uncommon category-based connection for words.
NYT Connections today is ready to provide players with a highly entertaining session, with a balanced, fun mix of simple connections and some intrepid twists. Since the challenge includes entertainment references, precise word meanings, and pop culture allusions, casual players try to keep up with older players.
While some groups may click into place unsettlingly fast, others are hidden behind double meanings that warrant that extra focus.
NYT Connections is one such daily word puzzle by The New York Times. Players see a grid containing 16 words and must sort them into four correct groups of four, depending on their shared link. Each of these groups has its unique theme, ranging from more or less simple categories, such as colors, to much trickier ones involving some form of pun or cultural reference.
Only one correct solution is possible for any puzzle. Every wrong guess costs one life, and four wrong inputs warrant a game over.
The Groups are color-coded:
Yellow is usually easier.
Green and Blue are of moderate difficulty.
Purple is usually the trickiest and often involves wordplay.
FISH
CHICK
CLIP
ENTRANCE
BANGLE
GATE
CHARM
PASSAGE
EXTRACT
RIVET
SUPREME
BOARD
GO-GO
QUOTE
THRILL
STRUCK
Yellow Group – Capturing Attention
Think of words linked to holding someone's focus or evoking strong interest.
One-word hint: RIVET
Green Group – Cutter Group
This group deals in reduction, oftentimes in text or video, into a smaller part.
One-word Hint: PASSAGE
Blue Group – Members of Musical Girl Groups
The connecting link here is iconic female musical acts.
One-Word Hint: CHICK
Purple Group – "Star" Connection
These words can be paired with "star" to form familiar terms or titles.
One-Word Hint: FISH
Yellow – Captivate: CHARM, ENTRANCE, RIVET, THRILL
Green – Excerpt: CLIP, EXTRACT, PASSAGE, QUOTE
Blue – Member of a Girl Group: BANGLE, CHICK, GO-GO, SUPREME
Purple – Star_____: BOARD, FISH, GATE, STRUCK
NYT Connections answers start deceptively easy with the blue group. Recognizing musical references like The Bangles and The Supremes will immediately give one a set. The yellow group, however, hides the connection behind clever misdirection. Words such as ENTRANCE and CHARM might initially evoke thoughts of places and things, but the actual scenario relates to enticing someone to pay attention.
Once the trimming or shortening aspect of the excerpt is understood, the green set stands tall, with CLIP and QUOTE coming up as apparent inclusions.
The purple group is more abstract with the "star" connection, but it is satisfying. STARBOARD, STARFISH, STARGATE, and STARSTRUCK form a neat set of lateral thinking. Some players may have to try a few combinations before the stars align and the link is revealed, especially if they're unfamiliar with all the pop culture references.
August 13's New York Times Connections balances fully accessible groups with layers of misdirection. The blue and green groups rely more on factual knowledge, while the yellow and purple groups imply a change of perspective. This blend creates a satisfying solution, blending straightforward connections and hidden wordplay.
Unlike recent puzzles, this one eschews blatant obscurities and marries popular culture with a literally and technically precise lexicon. One can notice the usual suspicious trend here, where unusual behind-the-wall definitions, instead of far-out trivia, are granted to hazy-As.
As a piece of strategy, first identifying the obvious thematic grouping, musical acts in this case, can build momentum. Putting off the ambiguous double-meaning words decreases guesswork. Recognizing that purple will usually contain playful constructs like "star" compounds, "light" phrases, or "hot" combinations can also help early on.
All in all, NYT Connections today shines for the clean execution of its theme and that satisfying moment when "ENTRANCE" changes context from merely a door to an act of delight. It's a puzzle that requires knowledge and flexibility, to remind players that sometimes meaning is out there in plain sight.
Let's meet tomorrow for a fresh NYT Connection and much fun.