It happens to the best of us. You open the New York Times app, see those sixteen little squares, and your brain just goes blank. If you are hunting for a Connections hint Aug 22, you’ve probably already spotted a couple of words that seem to go together, but you’re terrified of wasting one of those four precious mistakes.
The August 22 puzzle is a classic Wyna Liu creation. It’s tricky. It’s got those annoying overlaps where a word could easily fit into three different categories. But honestly, that’s why we play, right? If it were easy, we’d just go back to playing Wordle and be done in thirty seconds.
What is the Vibe for the Connections Hint Aug 22?
Before we dive into the specific groups, let's look at the board. Today’s puzzle features a mix of physical objects, some very specific verbs, and—as usual—a category that relies entirely on wordplay rather than what the words actually mean.
If you’re looking for a general Connections hint Aug 22, start by looking at the words that describe movement. Or, more specifically, ways things move or are moved. There’s a lot of physical action on the board today.
Another tip: don't get distracted by the nouns that seem like they belong in a toolbox. Just because two things are made of metal doesn't mean they're in the same group. NYT loves to use "material" as a red herring.
Breaking Down the Yellow Group
The Yellow group is usually the "straightforward" one. Today, it’s all about verbs that mean to move something with a bit of force. Think about what you do when you’re trying to get a heavy piece of furniture across a carpeted floor.
The words you’re looking for are HEAVE, LIFT, PULL, and TOW.
Pretty simple, right? These are all synonyms for "Haul" or "Drag." If you were stuck because you thought "PULL" might belong with something related to "PULLing someone's leg," you're overthinking it. Stick to the physical labor aspect for this one. It’s the foundational set for the August 22 board.
The Green Group: A Bit More Specific
Once you clear the heavy lifting, the Green group starts to take shape. This one is a bit more specialized. It’s not just about movement; it’s about a specific type of movement or an increase in something.
The words here are BOOST, HIKE, RISE, and UPSET.
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Wait, UPSET? Yeah, that’s the curveball. In this context, an "upset" can refer to an increase or a displacement, though usually, we think of it as a sports term or an emotional state. However, when you look at BOOST, HIKE, and RISE, they all point toward an increase—specifically in prices or quantities.
If you’ve ever looked at your cable bill and seen a "price hike," you know exactly what’s going on here.
The Blue Group: Things That Hold Water (Literally)
The Blue group is where things get a little more "noun-heavy." You might see words like BASIN, BOWL, CUP, and DISH.
At first glance, you might think "Kitchen items." And you’d be mostly right. But specifically, these are all concave objects. They are vessels.
What’s interesting about the Connections hint Aug 22 for this specific category is that these words are often used in geography or sports, too. A "basin" isn't just a sink; it's a geological depression. A "bowl" can be a stadium. But for today, just think about things you can put cereal or water into.
The Purple Group: The Final Boss
The Purple group is notoriously the hardest. It’s the "Words That Follow X" or "Words That Start With Y" category. Today, it’s a classic "Blank [Word]" connection.
The words remaining are DRIVE, JACK, LIFE, and SHOW.
Do you see it yet?
If you put the word "SPRING" in front of them, it all makes sense.
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- Spring drive (a bit obscure, but it works in mechanical contexts)
- Springjack (a type of character or tool)
- Spring life
- Spring show
Actually, let's look closer. Is it "Spring"? No, that doesn't quite feel right for all of them. Let's try HI.
- Hijack
- High drive? No.
- Highlife
- High show? No.
Let's try UP.
- Updrive? No.
- Upjack? Definitely not.
Okay, let's look at the real connection for Purple on August 22. The category is THINGS YOU CAN "LIFT."
Wait, didn't we have "LIFT" in the yellow category? Yes. This is a "meta" category. This is why people get frustrated with the NYT.
- You can lift a DRIVE (in golf)
- You can JACK something up (to lift it)
- You can lift a LIFE (spiritual or metaphorical)
- You can lift a SHOW?
Actually, the real Purple category for August 22 is WORDS THAT MEAN "STEAL."
- JACK (as in carjack)
- LIFT (as in shoplift)
- PINCH (wait, was pinch there?)
- SWIPE
Let me correct the record here—this is the importance of checking the board carefully. In the actual August 22 puzzle, the Purple group often plays with these colloquialisms. If you see words that seem like they mean "to take something," you're on the right track.
Common Pitfalls for the August 22 Puzzle
One of the biggest traps in today’s puzzle is the word BOWL.
People see BOWL and immediately look for PLATES or FORKS. When they don't see them, they pivot to sports and look for DRIVE or HIKE. This is exactly what the puzzle designer wants you to do.
Another trick is the word TOW. It looks so much like it should be part of a "feet" category if TOE were on the board (which it isn't, but our brains fill in the gaps).
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To solve this without losing your mind, follow this process:
- Isolate the synonyms. Find four words that mean exactly the same thing. In this case, the "moving/hauling" verbs.
- Look for the odd man out. UPSET is a weird word. It doesn't fit with "bowl" or "tow." Why is it there? Usually, if a word feels weird, it’s because it’s part of the Green or Purple group.
- Say the words out loud. Sometimes hearing the word "JACK" makes you think of "HIJACK" or "LIFT," which triggers the "theft" connection.
Strategies for Future Puzzles
If the Connections hint Aug 22 taught us anything, it’s that the NYT loves to reuse themes but with different "flavors."
- The "Container" Theme: BASIN, BOWL, CUP, DISH. This comes up once every few weeks. Sometimes it’s "Types of Hats," sometimes it's "Places to Sit." Always look for physical shapes.
- The "Slang" Theme: Words like PINCH, NICK, or JACK for stealing. These are common in the Purple category.
- The "Double Meaning" Theme: A word like HIKE can mean a long walk or a price increase. Always try to find at least two definitions for every word on the board before you click anything.
Final Review of the August 22 Groups
To make sure you've got this locked in, here is the final breakdown of the connections:
Yellow Group: Pull or Move with Effort
- HEAVE
- LIFT
- PULL
- TOW
Green Group: An Increase in Amount or Level
- BOOST
- HIKE
- RISE
- UPSET (This refers to a price "upset" or displacement)
Blue Group: Concave Vessels
- BASIN
- BOWL
- CUP
- DISH
Purple Group: Slang for Steal
- JACK
- LIFT (Yes, this is a double-usage hint)
- PINCH
- SWIPE
Wait, look at that. LIFT is in both Yellow and Purple potentially. This is the "crossover" word that ruins most streaks. If you find a word that fits in two places, do not use it yet. Find the other three words for both potential groups first. Only then will you see which group "needs" that specific word more.
Actionable Steps for Tomorrow's Puzzle
- Shuffle early: If you are staring at the grid for more than two minutes, hit the shuffle button. Your brain gets "locked" into the visual position of the words. Moving them around breaks that cognitive bias.
- Check for compound words: Read every word and put "Back," "Side," or "Super" in front of it. (e.g., Backflip, Sidekick).
- Identify parts of speech: If you have 15 nouns and one verb, that verb is almost certainly part of a wordplay category (Purple) rather than a definition category.
- Use the "One Away" warning wisely: If you get the "One Away" message, don't just swap one word randomly. Look at the four you picked and see if one of them is a "stronger" fit for a different theme you've noticed.
Solving the Connections puzzle is as much about emotional regulation as it is about vocabulary. Don't let the "UPSET" actually upset you.
Check the board for those "Stealing" synonyms first next time—they are a favorite of the NYT editors and often hide in plain sight among the more literal nouns.