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 reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTuesday, April 22, 2025, brings NYT Connections puzzle #681. Start with the spoiler-safe clues below; the complete category names and word groups follow afterward.
Spoiler-safe hints for Connections #681
-
To stop or shut something down before it is completed.
-
Essential items for ceramics.
-
All of these have a similar slippery texture.
-
Each of these generates something.
The clues move from the likely yellow group toward the more difficult purple connection. Stop here if you only wanted a nudge.
Full answers for Tuesday, April 22
Warning: The table below reveals every category and word.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
| Color | Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Cancel, as a project | AXE, CUT, DROP, SCRAP | Each verb can mean abandoning or stopping a planned project. |
| Green | Seen in a pottery studio | CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, WHEEL | These are familiar materials or equipment used to make and finish pottery. |
| Blue | Things that are slippery | BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, ICE | Each can be described as slippery; BANANA PEEL is the two-word phrase in the set. |
| Purple | Natural producers of heat | FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, VOLCANO | Each naturally produces or releases heat. |
How the four connections work
Yellow: project cancellation
AXE, CUT, DROP and SCRAP all work as ways to cancel a project. Their wording can make the group look like a general set of stopping verbs, so checking the other 12 entries helps confirm the intended context.
Green: pottery studio equipment and materials
CLAY is the basic forming material, while GLAZE is applied for a finished surface. A KILN fires the work, and a WHEEL lets a potter shape it. Together they describe a pottery-making workspace rather than four unrelated craft terms.
Blue: slippery things
BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE and ICE share a physical property. The inclusion of BANANA PEEL also tests whether you notice a phrase rather than looking only for single-word answers.
Purple: natural heat sources
FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN and VOLCANO form the broadest and most conceptual group. They are natural phenomena or events associated with generating or releasing heat, which makes this the puzzle’s purple-level connection.
What puzzle #681 asks you to do
NYT Connections presents 16 entries that must be divided into four groups of four. Each group shares a common property, and the colors traditionally run from yellow (usually easiest) through green and blue to purple (usually hardest). In this puzzle, one group depends on a phrase, one on a work setting, one on a broad physical property and one on a conceptual natural process.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Quick record of the puzzle
- Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
- Puzzle number: #681
- Hints published: Parade’s guide appeared at 12:25 a.m. EDT; ComicBook.com’s corroborating guide appeared at 7:00 a.m. EDT on the same date.
- Answer agreement: Both publications report the same four categories and color placements.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
