Waking up and opening the NYT Connections app is basically a morning ritual for half the planet at this point. But honestly, some days are just harder than others. Today is one of those days. If you’re staring at the screen for the August 19 puzzle and feeling like the words are just mocking you, don’t worry. You aren't alone.
Connections is all about those "Aha!" moments, but sometimes the "Oh no" moments take over first. It’s that specific brand of frustration where you see two words that definitely belong together, only to realize the game editor, Wyna Liu, has actually hidden them in two completely different categories. It's brilliant. It's also kind of exhausting.
Getting a Handle on the August 19 Board
Today’s puzzle, which marks a significant milestone in the game’s history as #800, feels like a classic. It’s got that perfect mix of straightforward definitions and "wait, what?" wordplay.
If you’re just looking for a little nudge without the full spoilers yet, think about how people talk. Like, really talk. Some people just don't know when to quit. That’s your first path forward.
Also, if you're a fan of a specific type of heavy, aged grape-based drink, you might find a foothold in the green category. It's not just "wine"—it's a bit more specific than that.
NYT Connections Hints August 19: Category Clues
Sometimes you just need to know the vibe of the groups to get the gears turning. Here is the breakdown of what you should be looking for today:
- Yellow Category Hint: We all know someone like this. They just keep going and going. It’s about people who are, well, quite chatty.
- Green Category Hint: This is for the connoisseurs. Think of bottles that sit on a bar cart, often used in cocktails or enjoyed after a big dinner.
- Blue Category Hint: This one is a fill-in-the-blank situation. Think of a very common word that follows all four of these terms to create a famous name or place.
- Purple Category Hint: This is the "wordplay" group. Each of these longer words actually starts with a word that describes something moving very, very fast.
Looking for the Yellow Group?
If you've spotted BLABBERMOUTH or CHATTERBOX, you're already halfway there. This group is probably the most "human" of the bunch. It’s just synonyms for people who talk a lot. Look for words like PRATTLER and WINDBAG to round it out.
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What’s Going on with Green?
This one is for the folks who know their spirits. SHERRY and PORT are the obvious starting points. If you’ve ever cooked a fancy chicken dish, you might recognize MARSALA. The final piece is VERMOUTH, which you’ve definitely had if you like a good martini. These are all FORTIFIED WINES.
The Tricky Stuff: Blue and Purple
The blue category today is a bit of a "blank" puzzle. The connection is the word ROCK.
- CLASSIC (Rock)
- LITTLE (Rock)
- PLYMOUTH (Rock)
- THE (Rock) — Yes, as in Dwayne Johnson.
Then we have purple. Purple is always the one that makes people throw their phones. Today, the theme is STARTING WITH WAYS TO MOVE QUICKLY.
Take the word DASHBOARD. The first part is "DASH."
FLYWHEEL starts with "FLY."
RUSHMORE starts with "RUSH."
DARTMOUTH starts with "DART."
It’s a clever one because "Dartmouth" and "Rushmore" feel like they belong in a "Famous Places" category, which is exactly the kind of red herring the NYT loves to throw at us.
The Final Answers for August 19
If you’ve run out of guesses or just want to see the full picture, here is the complete solution for the August 19 puzzle:
- QUITE THE TALKER (Yellow): BLABBERMOUTH, CHATTERBOX, PRATTLER, WINDBAG
- FORTIFIED WINES (Green): MARSALA, PORT, SHERRY, VERMOUTH
- ____ ROCK (Blue): CLASSIC, LITTLE, PLYMOUTH, THE
- STARTING WITH WAYS TO MOVE QUICKLY (Purple): DARTMOUTH, DASHBOARD, FLYWHEEL, RUSHMORE
Avoiding the "One Away" Trap
The biggest danger in today's puzzle was definitely the "place names" trap. Seeing PLYMOUTH, DARTMOUTH, and RUSHMORE together makes you want to find a fourth geographic location. You might even try to shove LITTLE in there (thinking Little Rock, Arkansas).
But that's where the overlap happens. LITTLE and PLYMOUTH both need to be in the "Rock" category. If you find yourself stuck on "One Away," try shuffling the board. It sounds silly, but seeing the words in a different physical order honestly resets how your brain processes the links.
Another tip? Look for the most "unique" word. VERMOUTH or MARSALA don't really have many other meanings in this context, so once you see them, you can be fairly certain you're looking for a wine-related group.
If you managed to solve this one without losing your mind, congrats. Puzzle #800 was a worthy challenge. Now, go enjoy your win before the Wordle or Strands daily reset hits and starts the whole cycle over again.
Your Next Strategy
- Check for "hidden" words within the words (like the speed terms in the purple group).
- Always look for words that could fit in two places and save them for last.
- Don't be afraid to use a "fill-in-the-blank" strategy for common nouns.