Today, NYT Connections pits players against categories comprising patterns, pairs, rotation, and curved rods.
The unusual clue combinations usually cause some confusion, not to mention the seemingly long phrases and overlapping word associations.
Single-word hints like PIANO KEYS, CLAVES, LAZY SUSAN, and CROOK aim to make it a bit easier.
One also needs to think about subtle connections and cultural references for all four groups to be completed faster.
NYT Connections today is a clever balance of wordplay and logic. One of the highlights of today's game: playful themes, some cunning misdirection, and those gratifying "Aha!" moments that make this daily challenge an instant hit. Some categories are straightforward; others require lateral thinking that keeps the solvers guessing till the last finale. Let’s take a look at what the game has to offer.
One of the most engaging daily word games the New York Times offers is NYT Connections. A 16-word grid is presented in each puzzle. Players arrange them into four groups of four according to the connections they deduce to be there.
Yellow, the easiest to solve
Green, moderately challenging
Blue, tricky yet fair
Purple, the hardest, often involving wordplay or misdirection
Players can shuffle the boards whenever they want and submit their guesses, receiving feedback if they are close to the actual answer. Four misses will cost the player the game, hence making strategy and observation critical.
Here are the words featured in today’s puzzle:
CANDY CANE
CAROUSEL
CEILING FAN
CROOK
ZEBRA
KNITTING NEEDLES
CROCHET HOOK
BARBER POLE
YIN-YANG SYMBOL
CROWBAR
PIANO KEYS
CHOPSTICKS
CLAVES
DOMINO
SKI POLES
LAZY SUSAN
For solvers who want a nudge without giving everything away, here are some NYT Connections hints today:
Yellow Group Hint
Think of items that share a black-and-white pattern.
One-word hint: Piano Keys
Green Group Hint
Pairs of objects designed to work as rods or sticks.
One-word hint: Claves
Blue Group Hint
Objects that spin or rotate around a vertical axis.
One-word hint: Lazy Susan
Purple Group Hint
Curved rods or items with a hook-like end.
One-word hint: Crook
Here are the confirmed NYT Connections answers for today’s puzzle:
Yellow Group — Black-and-white things: Domino, Piano Keys, Yin-Yang Symbol, Zebra
Green Group — Pairs of rods: Chopsticks, Claves, Knitting Needles, Ski Poles
Blue Group — Things that rotate about a vertical axis: Barber Pole, Carousel, Ceiling Fan, Lazy Susan
Purple Group — Rods that curve at one end: Candy Cane, Crochet Hook, Crook, Crowbar
Today’s NYT Connections hints and answers bring to mind many words that barely resist the temptation of becoming striped objects: Candy Cane, Zebra, Barber Pole, and Carousel. I want to believe such a group exists, only to find out that it serves to mislead. On the contrary, Candy Cane belongs to the more insidious purple group with curved rods.
The Yellow group is a shining example of transparency, with items that are quite commonly known to be black and white. The Green group raises more challenges, especially to solvers who are either unfamiliar with or have not yet encountered "Claves," which are wooden sticks used as a percussion instrument. The Blue group requires the application of space-oriented reasoning, as it connects everyday threshold objects that undergo rotation with a central axis.
Perhaps the hardest category is Purple, as the pair of "Crook" and "Crowbar" feels rather abstract until paired with Candy Cane and Crochet Hook. This is a classic instance of a very heavy wordplay purple group.
The August 20, 2025, NYT Connections chart balances neat wins with clever twists equally on either side. Greens and purples set off challenges for the experienced player, as they hold unexpected connections and require some obscure references, while yellows and blues are easy to determine.
Today's puzzle is easier and more playful, with the creative use of striped images and hook-based objects. This kind of puzzle rewards patience, persistence, and flexibility in thought processes.
Today, whether one finishes it in one sitting or by trial and error, it reinforces the appeal that has elevated the NYT Connections into a daily affair. The categories mix cultural references, everyday items, and clever wordplay to exercise the mind and make each subsequent win feel legit.
For those keeping track of streaks or just enjoying the process, today’s puzzle delivers both challenge and fun. It is an excellent example of why NYT Connections continues to capture so many word lovers worldwide.