A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #70
hints & answers for August 20, 2023

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows August 20, 2023. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, L, S and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COOLER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CAMPING SUPPLIES

Reveal all four words
  • COOLER
  • LANTERN
  • SLEEPING BAG
  • TENT

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Words or actions intended to offend.

Show one word

BARB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

INSULT

Reveal all four words
  • BARB
  • DIG
  • DISS
  • JAB

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with M, S, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

MINUTE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TINY

Reveal all four words
  • MINUTE
  • SLIGHT
  • SMALL
  • WEE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

CAMPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HAPPY ___

Reveal all four words
  • CAMPER
  • HOUR
  • MEAL
  • MEDIUM

Each entry comes after "HAPPY" to form a word, expression or name: CAMPER → HAPPY CAMPER; HOUR → HAPPY HOUR; MEAL → HAPPY MEAL; MEDIUM → HAPPY MEDIUM.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: CAMPING SUPPLIES
  • Green: INSULT
  • Blue: TINY
  • Purple: HAPPY ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CAMPING SUPPLIES

COOLER · LANTERN · SLEEPING BAG · TENT

Green

INSULT

BARB · DIG · DISS · JAB

Blue

TINY

MINUTE · SLIGHT · SMALL · WEE

Purple

HAPPY ___

CAMPER · HOUR · MEAL · MEDIUM

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.