Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteConnections #437 answers: The Wednesday, August 21, 2024, puzzle groups its 16 words into inflated things, chart types, ways to cover something thickly, and classic cocktail types. Use the hints first if you want to keep solving, or scroll to the table for the full spoiler.
NYT Connections #437 was published on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. The completed groups are THINGS THAT ARE INFLATED, KINDS OF CHARTS, COVER WITH A THICK LAYER, and CLASSIC COCKTAIL TYPES.
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Spoiler warning: The hints below become progressively more specific. The complete word groups and explanations appear after the hints.
Hints for Connections #437
- Gentle hint: One group includes objects that are commonly filled with air.
- Second hint: One group consists of visual formats used to present data.
- Third hint: One group describes applying a substantial covering or layer.
- Final category hint: The remaining group contains names associated with traditional mixed drinks.
Connections deliberately includes words that can seem to fit more than one category. Before submitting a group, check that all four words fit the same idea—not just two or three of them.
#1 Best Overall
Today’s Connections answers for August 21
Full spoilers follow.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Cover with a thick layer | CAKE, COAT, SMEAR, PLASTER |
| Green | Things that are inflated | BALLOON, BASKETBALL, FLOATIE, TIRE |
| Blue | Kinds of charts | BAR, BUBBLE, LINE, PIE |
| Purple | Classic cocktail types | FIZZ, PUNCH, SLING, SOUR |
Yellow: COVER WITH A THICK LAYER
- CAKE
- COAT
- SMEAR
- PLASTER
Here, cake is being used as a verb: something can be “caked” with mud, dust, or another substance. To coat, smear, or plaster something is likewise to cover it with a material, often in a substantial layer.
Green: THINGS THAT ARE INFLATED
- BALLOON
- BASKETBALL
- FLOATIE
- TIRE
These are concrete objects that are commonly filled with air or used in an inflated form. A floatie is the colloquial name for an inflatable pool or recreational device. Basketballs and tires are also normally air-filled, while a balloon is designed to hold air or another gas.
Rank #2
Blue: KINDS OF CHARTS
- BAR
- BUBBLE
- LINE
- PIE
Bar charts, bubble charts, line charts, and pie charts are all standard ways to visualize data. BAR, LINE, and PIE are especially tempting because they also appear in many unrelated phrases. BUBBLE is the useful signal: “bubble chart” makes the data-visualization connection much clearer.
Purple: CLASSIC COCKTAIL TYPES
- FIZZ
- PUNCH
- SLING
- SOUR
These words describe established cocktail styles or families. A fizz, punch, sling, and sour can each refer to a traditional mixed-drink type, making this the most specialized group in the puzzle.
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A practical route through this grid is to begin with the most concrete relationship:
- Find the inflated objects. BALLOON, BASKETBALL, FLOATIE, and TIRE form a clean group of air-filled items.
- Test the chart vocabulary. BAR, BUBBLE, LINE, and PIE all become chart types when followed by “chart.” BUBBLE helps confirm the intended connection.
- Examine the remaining action words. CAKE, COAT, SMEAR, and PLASTER can all describe covering something with a thick layer.
- Leave the cocktail terms for last. FIZZ, PUNCH, SLING, and SOUR are less familiar as category labels, but their shared connection becomes clear once the other words are removed.
The puzzle’s structure encourages this process. A word such as PIE may suggest food, BAR may suggest drinking, and SOUR may suggest taste. Those associations can be useful—but they can also distract from the intended categories. Look for a complete set of four before committing.
Where to play Connections
Connections is a daily word game in which players sort 16 terms into four groups of four. The game is available through supported versions of the NYT website, the NYT Games app, the News app, and certain NYT or The Athletic access points. The daily puzzle is released at midnight in the player’s time zone.
The current game-access information says Connections is free to play on supported platforms, while an account is recommended if you want progress to carry across devices. Eligible All Access and Games subscribers can also use the Connections archive to play older puzzles, including puzzles dating back to June 12, 2023. Readers who want to play more Connections puzzles can use the NYT Games archive and subscription options.
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- Spiral bound, 192 pages.
For clarity, this answer guide is specifically for Connections #437 from August 21, 2024. Searching only for “August 21” can be confusing because later editions on that calendar date have different puzzle numbers and answers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Connections answers for August 21, 2024?
The four Connections #437 groups are COVER WITH A THICK LAYER, THINGS THAT ARE INFLATED, KINDS OF CHARTS, and CLASSIC COCKTAIL TYPES.
Which Connections words mean cover with a thick layer?
The words are CAKE, COAT, SMEAR, and PLASTER.
Which Connections answers are inflated things?
The words are BALLOON, BASKETBALL, FLOATIE, and TIRE.
Which Connections answers are chart types?
The words are BAR, BUBBLE, LINE, and PIE.
Which Connections answers are classic cocktail types?
The words are FIZZ, PUNCH, SLING, and SOUR.
The Bottom Line
Connections #437 answers: COVER WITH A THICK LAYER — CAKE, COAT, SMEAR, PLASTER; THINGS THAT ARE INFLATED — BALLOON, BASKETBALL, FLOATIE, TIRE; KINDS OF CHARTS — BAR, BUBBLE, LINE, PIE; CLASSIC COCKTAIL TYPES — FIZZ, PUNCH, SLING, SOUR.
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