A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #73
hints & answers for August 23, 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 23, 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 B, G, M and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BEARD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FACIAL HAIR

Reveal all four words
  • BEARD
  • GOATEE
  • MUSTACHE
  • STUBBLE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with G, H, P and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GEAR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BIKE PARTS

Reveal all four words
  • GEAR
  • HANDLEBAR
  • PEDAL
  • WHEEL

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Keep after someone or something you want to reach.

Show one word

DOG belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PURSUE

Reveal all four words
  • DOG
  • FOLLOW
  • TAIL
  • TRACK

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DOUBT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE CAST

Reveal all four words
  • DOUBT
  • MOVIE
  • SHADOW
  • VOTE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: FACIAL HAIR
  • Green: BIKE PARTS
  • Blue: PURSUE
  • Purple: THINGS THAT ARE CAST

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

FACIAL HAIR

BEARD · GOATEE · MUSTACHE · STUBBLE

Green

BIKE PARTS

GEAR · HANDLEBAR · PEDAL · WHEEL

Blue

PURSUE

DOG · FOLLOW · TAIL · TRACK

Purple

THINGS THAT ARE CAST

DOUBT · MOVIE · SHADOW · VOTE

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.