Clues and answers for Monday, Aug. 18

Stuck on today’s New York Times Connections puzzle (#793)? Don’t worry, you are definitely not alone! These puzzles can be surprisingly challenging, but I have got some handy hints and insights to help you breeze through Tuesday’s game. And yes, if you want the spoilers, I have got those ready for you too. No shame in getting a little assist!

If you’re new to NYT Connections, here’s a quick rundown of how it works, along with some tips that might save you from frustration. Plus, I will toss in today’s Wordle hints if you’re interested.

What exactly is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is not your typical word game. It is a brain teaser where you are presented with a 4×4 grid containing 16 words. Your task? To find four groups of four words that share a common connection. These groups are color-coded: yellow, green, blue, and purple. The yellow group is usually the easiest to figure out, while purple tends to be the toughest.

Tips to Conquer NYT Connections

Though I’m fairly new to this game, here are some strategies that have worked for me:

1. Pay Attention to Feedback: When you get something wrong, watch the message at the top. One away means you’re close just one word off. That’s a cue to rethink which word might fit better elsewhere.
2. Shuffle to Refresh Your View: Don’t hesitate to shuffle the board multiple times. Seeing the words in different arrangements can spark new ideas.
3. Start with the Easy Groups: The yellow group tends to be the most obvious since those words usually share clear commonalities, like being synonyms. Just watch out for trick words that might fit more than one category.
4. Take Breaks if Needed: If you hit a wall, stepping away and coming back later with fresh eyes can make all the difference.

NYT Connections Hints for Today

Struggling with today’s Connections puzzle? Don’t worry, I have got you covered with just the right nudge.

Hints without spoilers:

• Yellow group: A little signal to get you moving
• Green group: When the moment feels right
• Blue group: Perks you often see at a hotel
• Purple group: Different types of  watch

 Example words to guide you:

• Yellow: Cue
• Green: Chance
• Blue: Parking
• Purple: Wrist

Official Group Names

(Scroll carefully if you only want a bigger hint and not the full solution!)

• Yellow: Indication
• Green: Opportunity
• Blue: Hotel amenities
• Purple: Words before “watch”

Today’s Answers

• Yellow: Indication: cue, nod, prompt, signal
• Green: Opportunity: break, chance, opening, shot
• Blue: Hotel amenities: breakfast, parking, pool, Wi-Fi
• Purple: Words before watch, digital, pocket, stop, wrist

My experience: I nearly mixed up Yellow and Green at first (cue + chance felt too similar), but once I spotted the hotel freebies, everything clicked. Purple is becoming easier to spot the “before X” pattern, and you’re golden.