NYT Connections today — hints and answers for Tuesday, August 20 (game #436)

Good day! Let’s delve into Connections, the innovative word challenge from NYT that tasks you with categorizing answers. It’s no easy feat, so stay tuned for some hints if you get stuck.

Once you’ve completed the challenge, why not indulge in more word games? I also have daily hints and answers for Wordle, Strands, and Quordle if you find yourself in need of assistance.

SPOILER ALERT: Details about NYT Connections today will follow, so proceed with caution if you want to avoid spoilers.

Your Connections expert

Your Connections expert

Marc McLaren

NYT Connections today (game #436) – today’s words

NYT Connections hints for game 436 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today’s NYT Connections words are…

  • CAT
  • CRANK
  • BLOW
  • POP
  • LION
  • GRINCH
  • WIND
  • TURTLE
  • CRAB
  • REEL
  • DRAFT
  • RAM
  • PUFF
  • BULL
  • TURN
  • GUST

NYT Connections today (game #436) – hint #1 – group hints

What are some clues for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • Yellow: Is there a breeze in here?
  • Green: Twist
  • Blue: Heavenly creatures
  • Purple: Doctor of rhymes

Need more clues?

We’re firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today’s NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #436) – hint #2 – group answers

What are the answers for today’s NYT Connections groups?

  • YELLOW: RUSH OF WIND
  • GREEN: ROTATE
  • BLUE: ZODIAC SYMBOLS
  • PURPLE: DR. SEUSS TITLE FIGURES

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #436) – the answers

NYT Connections answers for game 436 on a purple background

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today’s Connections, game #436, are…

  • YELLOW: RUSH OF WIND BLOW, DRAFT, GUST, PUFF
  • GREEN: ROTATE CRANK, REEL, TURN, WIND
  • BLUE: ZODIAC SYMBOLS BULL, CRAB, LION, RAM
  • PURPLE: DR. SEUSS TITLE FIGURES CAT, GRINCH, POP, TURTLE

  • My rating: Moderate
  • My score: 2 mistakes

Oh NYT, why must you make it tricky by including WIND in a group with BLOW, DRAFT, GUST, and PUFF – a surefire way to trip up those of us who fall into your trap. Alas, that’s exactly what happened to me. Curse you!

To add insult to injury, the yellow group seemed the easiest today, yet it was the one where I made two errors. I had identified the Dr. Seuss connection for the purple group with POP (in socks), CAT (in the hat), and GRINCH, but the final piece eluded me. So, I moved on to the other groups, managing to solve yellow and green after my initial misstep with wind-related answers.

That left me with five answers: BULL, LION, TURTLE, CRAB, and RAM. One fit with Dr. Seuss, while the other four formed the blue group. After much contemplation, I spotted the zodiac connection and completed the purple group by default with TURTLE. And just in case you’re wondering, it was Yertle the turtle…

How did you fare today? Drop me an email and share your results.


Yesterday’s NYT Connections answers (Monday, 19 August, game #435)

  • YELLOW: MUSIC GENRES BLUES, COUNTRY, FOLK, ROCK
  • GREEN: BRATWURST GO-WITHS