Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is live for game #806, with the daily set releasing at midnight in your time zone. If you’re chasing Sunday’s challenge, you can also look back at yesterday’s puzzle (game #805).
Today’s NYT Connections words
– PEARL
– JAM
– POM-POM
– FILTER
– PIPE CLEANER
– FEATHERS
– FIX
– TAMPER
– PEA
– WILLING
– GUZZLE
– MESS
– LIGHTER
– PICKLE
– SAD
– MOTHBALL
Hints and group clues for today
– Hint 1: Group clues
– YELLOW: Sticky situation
– GREEN: Round items
– BLUE: Tobacco accoutrements
– PURPLE: Connected by the opposite of “up”
– Hint 2: Group answers
– YELLOW: PREDICAMENT
– GREEN: SMALL SPHERICAL THINGS
– BLUE: PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIES
– PURPLE: WHAT “DOWN” MIGHT MEAN
The four groups and their solutions
– YELLOW group (PREDICAMENT): FIX, JAM, MESS, PICKLE
– GREEN group (SMALL SPHERICAL THINGS): MOTHBALL, PEA, PEARL, POM-POM
– BLUE group (PIPE-SMOKING ACCESSORIES): FILTER, LIGHTER, PIPE CLEANER, TAMPER
– PURPLE group (WHAT “DOWN” MIGHT MEAN): FEATHERS, GUZZLE, SAD, WILLING
Solver notes
This puzzle is rated hard. The author notes that the PEARL and JAM tiles stood out early, and that initial attempts to link PIPE CLEANER and POM-POM by material led to a misstep. The process involved testing fairy-tale or themed connections before landing on the correct groupings, with the pipe-related clues finally clicking into place after considering lighter, pipe cleaner, and tamper together. A satisfying challenge for the start of the puzzling week.
Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Sunday, August 24, game #805)
– YELLOW: WINE VESSELS -> BOTTLE, CARAFE, DECANTER, GLASS
– GREEN: RIPPED/TORE/… -> CLEFT, RENT, SPLIT, TORN
– BLUE: KINDS OF SNAKES -> CORAL, GARTER, KING, RATTLE
– PURPLE: ____ CALL -> CALL
– The purple set comes from phrases that pair with CALL to form common terms: booty call, close call, cold call, curtain call
What this means for readers and players
– The puzzle continues to reward flexible thinking, with groupings often built around common phrases, compound terms, or semantic links rather than single-word synonyms.
– If you’re stuck, skim for clusters that can form familiar compound terms (as the purple group demonstrates with “call”) and test how other words might fit into those thematic buckets.
– Daily NYT Connections complements other word games fans enjoy, so you can pair it with Strands, Quordle, or Wordle for a broader daily challenge.
Additional notes and value
– Quick strategy tips: start by spotting obvious standouts (like words that form well-known phrases with a common partner) and then work outward to the remaining words. Don’t be afraid to backtrack if you hit a dead end; a fresh look often reveals a missed connection.
– If you’d like, I can recap future days’ puzzles with spoiler-free hints or spoiler-filled solutions depending on your preference.
Summary
Today’s game #806 offers a solidly challenging set with four clear groups: a predicable Yellow set (FIX, JAM, MESS, PICKLE), a cluster of small spherical items (MOTHBALL, PEA, PEARL, POM-POM), a Blue set centered on pipe-related gear (FILTER, LIGHTER, PIPE CLEANER, TAMPER), and a Purple set anchored by what down might mean (FEATHERS, GUZZLE, SAD, WILLING). Yesterday’s puzzle followed a similar pattern, with categories centered on wine vessels, common word pairings with CALL, and other familiar groupings. If you enjoyed today, stay tuned for tomorrow’s daily challenge and more wordplay insights.