If you are searching for theConnectionsAnswer for Thursday, August 21, 2025, read on— I'll provide some hints, advice, and techniques, and ultimately the answers to all four categories. Throughout, I'll clarify the meanings of more complex words and explore how everything connects.Caution, there are spoilers ahead for August 21, NYT Connections #802!Read on if you're looking for some clues (and then the solution) to today's Connections puzzle.
If you're looking for a simple method to return to our daily Connections clues,bookmark this page. (If you play Wordle, Strands, or Quordle, check out our tips for those games as well.)
Below, I'll provide some indirect clues about today's Connections answers. Further down the page, I'll disclose the themes and the solutions. Scroll at your own pace and take only the hints you require!
The types of categories in today's Connections puzzle
Here are some non-spoiler clues that outline the nature of each category in today's Connections:
- Yellow category - Synonyms.
- Green category - Related locations.
- Blue category - Related nouns.
- Purple section - Complete the sentence.
Tips for the themes in today's Connections puzzle
Here are a few hints for the groupings in today's Connections:
- Yellow level - Could lead to feelings of embarrassment or humiliation.
- Green category - Imaginary locations.
- Blue category - They share a comparable physical characteristic.
- Purple category - They choose a word for an informal sketch.
CAUTION: Spoilers ahead for today's Connections puzzle!
We're about to reveal some of the answers. Take your time scrolling if you prefer not to have everything spoiled. (The complete solution can be found a bit further down.)
A warning regarding the difficult sections
DIPSY and LA-LA could remind you of TELETUBBY characters, but they fall into different categories nowadays. (Additionally, the character's name is actually spelled Laa-Laa,)according to Wikipedia, so there’s that.)
YANKEE combines with a word to create the title of a nursery rhyme and song.
SLIP is a term used to describe an error made in public, like dressing inappropriately for a formal occasion.
What are the categories in today's Connections?
- Yellow: BLUNDER
- Green: LANDS OF THE IMAGINATION
- Blue: THINGS WITH ANTENNA/E
- Purple: ___ DOODLE
DOUBLE CAUTION: THE ANSWER LIES BELOW
Eager to discover the solutions to today's Connections puzzle? I reveal them all below.
What are the yellow words in today's Connections?
The yellow category is seen as the simplest. The theme for today's yellow group is MISTAKE, and the words are: BOO-BOO, FLUB, GAFFE, NO-NO.
What are the green words in today's Connections?
The green group is meant to be the second simplest. The theme for today's green category is LANDS OF THE IMAGINATION, and the words are: DREAM, FANTASY, LA-LA, NEVER NEVER.
What are the blue words in today's Connections?
The blue group is the second most difficult. The theme for today's blue category is THINGS WITH ANTENNA/E and the words are: INSECT, RADIO TOWER, SATELLITE DISH, TELETUBBY.
What are the purple words in today's Connections?
The purple group is regarded as the most challenging. The theme for today's purple category is ___ DOODLE, and the words are: CHEESE, DIPSY, GOOGLE, YANKEE.
How I tackled today's Connections
DIPSY and LA-LA are the names of Teletubbies, but I don't recognize any others (other than TELETUBBY).
Mistake-related terms such as slip-up, blunder, error, and mishap could be grouped together. 🟨
LA-LA makes me think of the expression "LA-LA land" (a place someone is described as going when they are daydreaming or not focused) and this could pair with DREAM, FANTASY, and NEVER NEVER, which are also "lands." 🟩
YANKEE and CHEESE are now adjacent, and both can pair with the word "doodle." I believe DIPSY and GOOGLE also fit with doodle. YANKEE Doodle is a character from a nursery rhyme; CHEESE doodle is a kind of snack; DIPSY doodle is a bob-and-weave move; and GOOGLE doodles are the images displayed on the Google homepage for special occasions and events. 🟪
That leaves RADIO TOWER, INSECT, TELETUBBY, and SATELLITE DISH. Ah, those all feature antennae. 🟦
How to play Connections
I have a full guide to playing Connections, but here's a quick reminder of the rules:
First, locate the Connections game eitheron the New York Times site or in their Games app(formerly the Crossword app). You'll notice a game board featuring 16 tiles, each containing a word or phrase. Your task is to pick a set of four tiles that share a common theme. Usually, they are all categories of the same kind (for example: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all forms of precipitation) but occasionally there is some wordplay involved (for example, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH are all types of)lists: must-do list, invite list, and so on).
Choose four items and click the Submit button. If you were correct, the category and color will be shown. (Yellow is the simplest, then green, followed by blue, and finally purple.) If your guess was wrong, you'll have another opportunity to try.
You succeed when you have accurately recognized all four groups. However, if you commit four errors before completing the task, the game concludes and the solutions are displayed.
How to win Connections
The key thing to understand when playing Connections is that the groupings are meant to be challenging. Be prepared for overlapping categories. For instance, one puzzle appeared to contain six breakfast items: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. However, BACON was actually part of a different group.paintersAlong with CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, and EGG was part of a collection of items that come in dozens (along with JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). So don't click "submit" until you've verified that your group of four includesonly those four things.
If you're having trouble, another approach is to examine the words that appear to havenoconnection with others. If the only thing that comes to mind when you see WHISTLER is the painting known as“Whistler’s Mother,”You could be onto something. When I worked on that one, I ended up searching online to check if there was a painter named Close, because Close didn't match any of the clear themes.
An alternative method to succeed when you're stuck is, naturally, to read some useful tips—this is why we provide these suggestions daily. Visit again tomorrow for the next puzzle!