Struggling with today’s NYT Connections puzzle? We’ve got you covered with the best hints and answers for August 13, 2025. Whether you’re stuck on a tricky category or just need a nudge in the right direction, our clues will help you unravel the connections.
Discover common missed groups and learn how to spot hidden themes that might be tripping you up. This puzzle promises a mix of challenge and fun, with categories that range from the obvious to the delightfully obscure.
Ready to conquer today’s Connections? Dive in and sharpen your problem-solving skills with our expert guidance!
- Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (#795) features challenging groups related to commuting, cooking, and more, with some common pitfalls explained.
- Key hints include identifying word patterns like phonetic letter representations (e.g., “APPLE” for “A”) and homophonic letter sounds (e.g., “DECAY” for “DK”).
- Missed categories often involve obscure terms or overlapping themes, such as tree names (BEECH, PINE) being confused with scent-related words.
Community Reactions
- 匿名オリーブ (2025-08-13)
Why does every 'hint' article spoil the purple category now? Takes all the fun out of struggling through it myself.
- 匿名チキン (2025-08-13)
Today's theme with medical terms mixed with car parts was either genius or absolutely deranged. Still not sure which.
- 匿名ベーコン (2025-08-13)
Honestly shocked Forbes is covering this. Next they'll be analyzing Wordle strategies with stock market charts.
- 匿名エビ (2025-08-13)
LOL imagine 'Based on today's CONNECTIONS performance, we recommend shorting vowels and going long on obscure 90s pop culture references.'
- 匿名エビ (2025-08-13)
NYT Connections Hint Aug 13 2025: Best Clues & Answers for Today’s Puzzle
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (#786) challenges players to group 16 words into four thematic categories. The game requires keen pattern recognition, as words often have multiple meanings or belong to obscure categories. Key strategies include looking for homonyms, pop culture references, and semantic connections that aren’t immediately obvious.




Common Pitfalls in Today’s Puzzle
Many solvers struggle with today’s puzzle due to overlapping categories and deceptive word choices. Words like “bank,” “court,” and “pitcher” appear frequently but belong to different categories depending on context. The most commonly missed connection involves sports equipment that doubles as everyday objects.
How to Solve the Tricky “Double Meaning” Category
This challenging group contains words that all serve as both nouns and verbs with completely different meanings. For example, “file” could refer to documents or the act of submitting them, while “match” might mean a sports competition or something that creates fire.
| Word | Primary Meaning | Secondary Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bank | Financial institution | River edge |
| Fence | Barrier | Dealer in stolen goods |
Why Players Keep Missing the Cooking Terms Group


The cooking-related words in today’s puzzle are particularly deceptive because they’re common in non-culinary contexts. Terms like “dash,” “pinch,” and “fold” all have cooking-specific definitions that differ from their everyday usage.
- Dash: A small amount (cooking) vs. quick movement
- Fold: Combine ingredients vs. bend paper
- Knead: Work dough vs. require attention (“kneads”)
Secret Pop Culture References Nobody Spotted
One clever category hides references to famous movie lines that have entered common parlance. Words like “box,” “gump,” and “blue” might form a category relating to memorable quotes from popular films.






Best Strategy for August 13’s Puzzle Based on Past Games


Analyzing patterns from previous puzzles reveals that mid-week games often feature:
- Two straightforward categories
- One double-meaning category
- One obscure or culture-specific group
Players should solve the obvious groups first to eliminate options for the trickier categories.
“Why Does NYT Connections Feel Harder on Wednesdays?” (Actual Player Complaints)
Many solvers report increased difficulty with Wednesday puzzles, possibly because:
- The mid-week point often introduces more abstract categories
- Editors may assume players have warmed up earlier in the week
- Higher ratio of “stretch” connections that require lateral thinking
Unusual Word Groupings That Fooled Experts Today
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The most surprising connection in today’s puzzle involves words that are all types of fasteners but from different contexts:
| Word | Fastener Type | Common Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Zip | Zipper | Clothing |
| Clip | Paperclip | Office supplies |
Smart Tricks to Solve Future Connections Puzzles Faster
Seasoned players recommend these time-saving techniques:
- Scan for obvious groups first to narrow options
- Look for words that can’t logically belong together
- Note prefixes/suffixes that might indicate categories
- Consider all parts of speech for each word

Another day, another Connections puzzle making me question my intelligence. Today’s ‘common missed groups’ explanation was actually helpful though. 🧩
Disagree – the challenge is what makes it fun! If it were obvious, it wouldn’t be satisfying to solve.
Right? Some of these categories feel like they’re designed to trick you rather than test knowledge.
The Mashable hints are becoming my daily ritual. Their ‘pattern recognition’ tips legit improved my solve time from 15 minutes to under 5.
Honestly shocked Forbes is covering this. Next they’ll be analyzing Wordle strategies with stock market charts.
LOL imagine ‘Based on today’s CONNECTIONS performance, we recommend shorting vowels and going long on obscure 90s pop culture references.’
Today’s theme with medical terms mixed with car parts was either genius or absolutely deranged. Still not sure which.
Why does every ‘hint’ article spoil the purple category now? Takes all the fun out of struggling through it myself.