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Cracking August 13, 2025 NYT Connections: A Walk‑Through, Hint Ladder, and Full Solution

Posted on August 13, 2025 — by Staff Writer

Time to Solve:6
Word Count:~218 words

Welcome to another round of Connections Corner, where today’s puzzle is all about captivating your mind and perhaps even charming your way through some tricky group dynamics. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be entranced by the rhythmic sounds of the BANGLES, right? But beware, the STAR___ category might just strike you with some unexpected twists! Let’s dive into the colorful chaos and see if you can rivet your way to victory.


What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is The New York Times' daily word-association puzzle that challenges you to group 16 seemingly random words into four hidden categories. Each set of Connections answers is unique, ranging from pop-culture references to tricky linguistic twists, making it a fresh brain-teaser every day. Whether you're hunting for subtle hints, full solutions, or an archive of past puzzles, our site delivers everything you need to conquer today's NYT Connections and sharpen your puzzle-solving skills.


Today's Grid

CHARM
ENTRANCE
RIVET
THRILL
CLIP
EXTRACT
PASSAGE
QUOTE
BANGLE
CHICK
GO-GO
SUPREME
BOARD
FISH
GATE
STRUCK

Remember: the NYT shuffles the tiles each time you open the puzzle, so your on‑screen layout might differ. The words themselves, however, are identical.


Hints

No hints are available for this puzzle.


🎉 Full Solution (Spoilers Ahead!) 🎉

Nailed it in four? 🎯 Gold star! Needed a few swings first? You're in fine company—the purple decoys were downright devious today.


Strategy Spotlight: How to Approach This Puzzle

In this puzzle, solvers often get stuck when trying to identify the correct groupings of words, particularly when faced with synonyms or words that seem related but don't fit the category. For example, in the YELLOW group, words like 'CHARM' and 'THRILL' may lead players to overthink their connections, as they might consider other emotional or sensory experiences that don't actually belong. Similarly, in the PURPLE group, 'STAR GATE' might confuse players who are thinking of popular culture references instead of recognizing it as part of a common phrase or term. This can lead to misclassification and a failure to see the clear associations among the words in each group.

To distinguish the real groups from plausible decoys, players should focus on the defining characteristics of each word. For instance, in the BLUE category, identifying that all terms are indeed members of girl groups is crucial; knowing the historical context of 'BANGLE' and 'SUPREME' as iconic girl groups can help solidify the grouping. Similarly, with the GREEN group, recognizing that all words pertain to extracting information or text can help clarify the connections. One effective strategy is to consider the primary function or action associated with each word, as this often illuminates the correct classification.

As a takeaway heuristic, players should always look for a unifying theme or action that ties words together within each group. This can help streamline the classification process and reduce the likelihood of getting stuck on synonyms or decoys. Additionally, it can be beneficial to write down or mentally categorize words as you go, which allows for clearer visualization of potential groupings and helps in narrowing down options more effectively.


Final Thoughts

Today’s puzzle had its fair share of delightful traps and enchanting moments, especially with those devilish purples lurking in the corners. Don’t forget to join us tomorrow for more wordplay wizardry and brain-teasing fun!

Happy connecting, and see you in the squares!