Connections puzzle #787 is the Wednesday, August 6, 2025 board. Its four themes are decorative adornments, ways to tease, boxing punches, and muscle nicknames ending in “s.” If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hints below before opening the spoiler-marked answer grid.
Hints for Connections #787
Try these clues in order, from the least revealing to the most specific:
- Think about decorative adornments.
- Look for words that can mean to poke fun at someone.
- Consider actions in the boxing ring.
- One group is based on flexing—and a small spelling change.
The 16 words in the August 6 board
BADGE, BAIT, BROOCH, BUTTON, CROSS, HOOK, JAB, NEEDLE, PIN, RAG, RIB, SHAMMY, SPEC, SQUAD, STRAP, UPPERCUT.
Spoilers: the four groups and answers
Stop here if you are still solving. The complete groupings are below.
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| Theme | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory with a pointy fastener | BADGE, BROOCH, BUTTON, PIN | Each can be an accessory secured with a pin or another pointed fastener. |
| Tease | BAIT, NEEDLE, RAG, RIB | Each can mean to tease or provoke someone. |
| Boxing punches | CROSS, HOOK, JAB, UPPERCUT | Each names a type of punch. |
| Muscle nicknames plus “s” | SHAMMY, SPEC, SQUAD, STRAP | Remove the final “s” from each to reveal a muscle nickname: SHAM, PEC, QUAD, and TRAP. |
How to read the trickiest connection
The purple group is a word transformation rather than a set of direct synonyms. SHAMMY, SPEC, SQUAD, and STRAP each contain an extra final “s” when read as muscle nicknames: sham, pec, quad, and trap. The green group also invites a possible detour: HOOK and JAB can sound like teasing or baiting, but they belong with CROSS and UPPERCUT as boxing punches.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A useful check before submitting a group
For each proposed set, state one precise rule and test all four words against it. If a word seems to fit more than one theme, compare which grouping gives all four words a consistent connection; here, keeping HOOK and JAB with the other punches resolves the overlap.
Rank #2
The puzzle date and board are listed in the WordHint archive. The answer groupings are also reported by DocumentaryTube and TechRadar. TechRadar describes the game format and solving context in its Connections guide. These are secondary answer guides; the available sources do not establish an official NYT archive confirmation for this board.
Quick Recap
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Rank #3
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