Stuck on today’s Connections? Here are light hints, the category names, and the full solution for puzzle #829. If you want to play first, open the game on the NYT Games site.

How tough is today’s grid?

The Times pegs today’s difficulty at 2 out of 5 in its daily forum for this puzzle (Connections Companion No. 829), so most solvers should find a clean path once the first set clicks.

Subtle hints (no spoilers)

  • Yellow: Things that move because of air.
  • Green: Reconsidering or reversing a stance.
  • Blue: Forcing more into a tight space.
  • Purple: Words that close out long-running kids’ TV titles.

The category names (minor spoilers)

  • Yellow: They’re blowin’ in the wind
  • Green: Change one’s tune
  • Blue: Cram
  • Purple: Last words in long-running children’s show titles

Full answers (spoilers)

  • They’re blowin’ in the wind: FLAG, PINWHEEL, VANE, WIND CHIME
  • Change one’s tune: ABOUT-FACE, BACKPEDAL, FLIP-FLOP, RENEGE
  • Cram: JAM, SHOEHORN, STUFF, WEDGE
  • Last words in long-running children’s show titles: KANGAROO, NEIGHBORHOOD, RAINBOW, STREET

Why these sets work

The yellow group lines up common objects that visibly respond to wind, which makes it one of the friendlier entries. Green gathers verbs and phrases used when someone reverses a decision. Blue sticks to compacting language—each can describe pushing excess into too small a container. Purple is trivia-flavored: think classic series like Captain Kangaroo, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, and Sesame Street.

Quick tips for future puzzles

  • Hunt for four tight synonyms first; that’s often the yellow or green set.
  • Beware near-miss overlaps (e.g., shoe types vs. “flip-flop” as a reversal verb).
  • Use shuffle to break visual patterns and spot new pairings.
  • Purple frequently leans on wordplay or cultural titles; try “ends with” or “starts with” frames.

For fundamentals and common pitfalls, the Times’ editorial team has a practical tips and tricks guide. If you want to revisit older boards, use the official archive.

New Connections puzzles go live at midnight in your local time zone. Good luck keeping that streak going.