You wake up, grab your coffee, and open the NYT Games app only to find yourself staring at 16 words that look like they were pulled out of a hat by a chaotic toddler. That's the vibe for the NYT Connections hints August 18 puzzle. Some days are a breeze. Today is definitely not one of those days.
If you’re currently stuck on puzzle #799, don't feel bad. There are so many red herrings today that it feels like the editors at the New York Times are actively trying to ruin our win streaks. I mean, seeing "CUE," "POOL," and "BREAK" all on the same board? That’s just mean-spirited. It’s the classic trap. You think you’ve found a billiards category, you hit submit, and—BAM—one mistake down.
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Let's break this down before you lose your last life.
The Strategy: Don't Fall for the "Pool" Trap
The most annoying part about today's grid is the overlapping synonyms. You’ve got words that could easily slide into two or three different buckets. Honestly, the best way to approach this is to ignore the groups you think you see for a second and look for the absolute weirdest words on the board.
"WI-FI" is a great starting point. It's so specific. It doesn't really have many synonyms. Once you see "WI-FI," your brain should start searching for things you find in a specific location. Then you spot "PARKING." Suddenly, the "Hotel Amenities" group starts to take shape.
Quick Hints for Each Color
- Yellow: These are basically "go ahead" signals. If someone is waiting for you to do something, they’ll give you one of these.
- Green: This is all about a "lucky break" or a "big opening." Think about someone getting their start in Hollywood or sports.
- Blue: You'd find these listed on a Travelocity page or a hotel's "About" section.
- Purple: This is a classic "Words Before X" category. If you add a specific timepiece-related word after each of these, they make total sense.
NYT Connections Hints August 18: The Big Reveals
Sometimes you just need the categories to nudge you in the right direction without giving away the whole farm. Here is how the groups are structured for the August 18 puzzle.
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The Yellow Category: Indication
This is the "easiest" group, though I'd argue it's actually pretty tricky today because "SIGNAL" and "CUE" are so closely related to other tech terms on the board. These are all things that prompt an action.
- CUE
- NOD
- PROMPT
- SIGNAL
The Green Category: Opportunity
Green is usually straightforward, but "SHOT" and "BREAK" are huge red herrings. "SHOT" could be a drink, a medical thing, or even related to "SIGNAL." But here, they all mean a "chance."
- BREAK
- CHANCE
- OPENING
- SHOT
The Blue Category: Hotel Amenities
This is where the "POOL" and "BREAKFAST" words actually belong. If you tried to put "POOL" with "CUE" earlier, this is why you got that "One Away" message.
- BREAKFAST
- PARKING
- POOL
- WI-FI
The Purple Category: Words Before "Watch"
Purple is the notorious "brain teaser" category. Today, it’s all about different types of watches. Once you see "DIGITAL" and "POCKET," it clicks.
- DIGITAL (Digital Watch)
- POCKET (Pocket Watch)
- STOP (Stopwatch)
- WRIST (Wristwatch)
Why Is This Puzzle So Hard?
The "Billiards" red herring is one of the most clever ones the NYT has used in a while. They knew exactly what they were doing putting "CUE," "POOL," "BREAK," and "SHOT" (as in "taking a shot") together. It’s a textbook example of how the game uses "The Wall" mechanics from the BBC show Only Connect.
Another thing that tripped people up today was the word "BREAK." It appears in the Green category (as in "a lucky break") but it's also half of the word "BREAKFAST" in the Blue category. When a word is part of another word on the board, it's a huge psychological distraction.
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A Tip for Tomorrow
When you see words that seem to belong to a very obvious, very specific theme (like "Pool Hall" or "Kitchen Utensils"), be suspicious. The NYT loves to take one word from four different actual categories and make them look like a fifth, fake category.
Basically, if it looks too easy, it's probably a trap.
Actionable Next Steps for Puzzle Lovers
If you've finished Connections and you're still craving that dopamine hit, here's what you should do next:
- Check your Wordle streak: Don't forget the daily classic.
- Try "Strands": It's the newer NYT game that’s still in beta. It’s like a word search but with a theme and actual depth.
- Review the Archive: If you’re a subscriber, go back and play the puzzles from August 2024. The themes were wildly different back then, often focusing more on pop culture than these synonym-heavy grids we've been seeing lately.
- Use the Shuffle Button: Seriously. If you’re stuck, hit shuffle. It breaks the visual patterns your brain is forcing on the words and can help you see a connection you missed for twenty minutes.
Good luck with the rest of your daily games!