Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWednesday, August 6, 2025, is NYT Connections puzzle #787. Start with the four broad clues below, then choose whether to reveal more specific hints or the full answer key.
Today’s Connections words
The 16 words on the board are:
BAIT, PIN, CROSS, SQUAD, HOOK, SPEC, NEEDLE, BADGE, STRAP, BUTTON, RAG, SHAMMY, RIB, UPPERCUT, BROOCH, JAB.
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Progressive hints
Try to find four groups of four words that share a connection. The NYT puzzle allows up to four mistakes, and wordplay can make a connection less obvious than it first appears. The NYT Help Center explains how to play Connections.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBroad clues
- Decorative adornment
- To poke fun
- In the ring
- Flexing
More direct clues
- Think of an item used to attach a name tag.
- One group is about “just joshin’ ya.”
- Think of the phrase “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”
- Think of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Answers for Connections #787
Spoilers ahead: The category names and word groupings below reveal the full solution.
#1 Best Overall
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | ACCESSORY WITH A POINTY FASTENER | BADGE, BROOCH, BUTTON, PIN |
| Green | TEASE | BAIT, NEEDLE, RAG, RIB |
| Blue | BOXING PUNCHES | CROSS, HOOK, JAB, UPPERCUT |
| Purple | MUSCLE NICKNAMES PLUS “S” | SHAMMY, SPEC, SQUAD, STRAP |
When and where to play
Connections releases daily at midnight in the player’s timezone, so the date shown for a puzzle can differ by location. It is free to play on the NYT Games site and in the Games and News apps; the NYT Help Center also lists NYT and The Athletic web properties. Signing in to an NYT account is recommended if you want progress retained across devices. See the NYT Games FAQ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can you play this puzzle in the archive?
The NYT Connections archive includes puzzles dating back to June 12, 2023, and is available to All Access and Games subscribers. You need an NYT account for archive progress and play history. Archive play counts toward statistics but not streaks, and a completed archive puzzle cannot be replayed. The archive is accessible through a browser navigation menu or the Games app, but not the News app Play tab. Details are in the NYT Games FAQ and NYT archive instructions.
Quick Recap
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