Quick Links
In today’sConnectionspuzzle, there are many possible options and some harder-than-average words that make it difficult to determine which words go where. Theeditors were seemingly working overtime trying to squeeze in the most red herringsthey could. Fortunately, we have solved the puzzle and now have several tips and tricks to make your time solving the puzzle more efficient.
If you are a fan ofConnections,there are far more puzzles out there for you to test out. One of these is theVertexpuzzle by the NYT, which allows you to make a different kind of connection. Thisone will create a full pictureworth a thousand words and is worth checking out for anyone interested in logical deduction puzzles.
12 Letter Boxed Strategies To Win Quickly
The Letter Boxed game for the New York Times mobile app asks you to connect letters to form words while using various strategies to win quickly.
Today’s Connections Category Hints
AUGUST 16 #431
If you are stuck trying to figure out what the various categories might be, we have some hints for you to try to solve the puzzle without any spoilers. This puzzle has some interesting red herrings and some confusing words as well.
The last (purple) category is a little odd today. The definition made for it is nottechnicallywrong, but I do take issue with it. However, if you just need the category names, we have them listed below.
THINGS THAT GO UP AND DOWN
OK
SO-SO
This category was, predictably, the easiest. The OK is a bit of a red herring if you already understand what the next category is, and the SO-SO is confusing with all of the other hyphenated words, creating a false category. However,seeing OK along with AVERAGE told me that it likely did not go with the other two-letter words. Ifigured this one out fairly quickly, as I figured the hyphenated words were likely a trick on the editor’s part.
OR
PA
For a short time, I thought the next category was socks as opposed to boots, so I thought there was a chance HI belonged in that category. However, thiscategory was actually a combination of two-letter words, and it was not a trick like I thought it might be. Regardless, I saved these words for last and did not solve it until I figured out the others, as I did not want to waste my guess.
8 NYT Tiles Strategies To Score Huge Combos
The Tiles game for the New York Times mobile app asks you to use various strategies to pair matching visual patterns together to build huge combos.
GO-GO
THIGH-HIGH
I solved this category second, despite believing it was about socks for a little while. As it turns out, many boots and socks share similar names. COWBOY and GO-GO threw me off for a short bit, but realizing thatnothing else had anything remotely related to feet, shoes, or socks of any kind(except maybe Tide, as a detergent), it was then easier to deduce that these probably went together.
TIDE
YO-YO
Despite solving this puzzle and understanding that these words all had something to do with orbit, I still have issues with the phrasing of the category and the inclusion of SUN and TIDE. The SUN only appears to go up and down and does not even appear on the same side every day when we look at it. And the TIDE goes in and out, not up and down.YO-YO and ELEVATOR have the most in commonand should be in this category, but the phrasing should be slightly different. I insist.
Other Games Like Connections
Once you have questioned the notion of direction and what is up and down anyway, you’re able to move on to a perhaps less existential game, suchThe Password Game, or another one listed in the table below:
Is It Free To Play?
Wordle(NYT)
Solve a random five-letter word by using color clues.EveryWordleanswercan be found in our daily updated list.
Yes
Worldle
Name a country based only on its silhouette and a few geographical hints.
The Password Game
Create a password in this ever-changing, not-so-simple game. You can find somehelpful tips in ourPassword Gameguide.
Absurdle
Try to solve a game ofWordlewithout any help. With each guess, the game reveals as little information as possible, even changing the word if need be.
