The New York Times’ popular daily word game, Connections, has released its latest puzzle for Friday, August 8, challenging players to find the links between a grid of words. This engaging game, available on the NYT website and Games app, refreshes at midnight local time, offering a fresh puzzle each day.
Today’s puzzle presents players with 16 words, which they must organize into four groups of four based on common themes or connections. The task requires careful consideration, as words may fit into multiple categories, and players have only four chances to get it right.
Understanding the Game
Connections, a free offering from The New York Times, has captivated word enthusiasts with its unique format. Each day, players are given a grid of words and are tasked with identifying the links between them. The groups can be based on various themes, such as items you can click, names for research study participants, or words preceded by a body part.
The challenge lies in the fact that there is only one correct solution for each puzzle. Words that could belong to more than one category add an extra layer of complexity. To assist in visualizing connections, players can shuffle the words.
Color-Coded Clues
Each group in the puzzle is color-coded to indicate its difficulty level. The yellow group is typically the easiest to identify, followed by the blue and green groups, with the purple group often being the most challenging due to its reliance on wordplay.
“Select four words you think go together and press Submit. If you make a guess and you’re incorrect, you’ll lose a life.”
Today’s Puzzle Breakdown
For today, the words provided are: DEGREE, DRAW, PAC-MAN, VEST, PAINT, PRESENT, TIE, DOODLE, MARVEL, SQUARE, SPACE, EVEN, DOZE, GRANT, CONFER, and PASS NOTES. The hints for today’s groups are as follows:
- 🟨 Yellow group — restore parity in a sporting contest
- 🟩 Green group — hand over, as in a gift
- 🟦 Blue group — just don’t get caught doing these or groaning loudly and you should be fine
- 🟪 Purple group — Rachel and dos may be another word or two worth considering here
Hints and Solutions
For those needing a little extra help, here are one-word hints for each group:
- 🟨 Yellow group — TIE
- 🟩 Green group — VEST
- 🟦 Blue group — SPACE
- 🟪 Purple group — DEGREE
And for those ready to see the answers:
- 🟨 Yellow group — make equal, as a score (DRAW, EVEN, SQUARE, TIE)
- 🟩 Green group — bestow (CONFER, GRANT, PRESENT, VEST)
- 🟦 Blue group — things you might do during a boring class/meeting (DOODLE, DOZE, PASS NOTES, SPACE)
- 🟪 Purple group — words after the letter “MS” (DEGREE, MARVEL, PAC-MAN, PAINT)
The Community and Beyond
The Connections game has cultivated a vibrant community of players who discuss strategies and share their experiences on platforms like Discord. This community not only enhances the gaming experience but also provides feedback and suggestions to improve the game further.
For those with an NYT All Access or Games subscription, there’s an archive of past Connections puzzles to explore. This feature allows players to revisit and solve previous puzzles they may have missed.
As the game continues to grow in popularity, it represents a modern twist on traditional word puzzles, combining elements of logic, vocabulary, and pattern recognition.
“The move represents a significant engagement tool for The New York Times, drawing in daily users and fostering a dedicated player base.”
As the weekend approaches, players are encouraged to take a moment for self-care and enjoy the challenge that Connections offers. The game not only provides a mental workout but also a sense of community and shared enjoyment.
Stay tuned for more puzzles and solutions, and remember to stay hydrated and be kind to yourself and others. Happy puzzling!
