Today’s Connections puzzle presents a unique challenge that encourages you to pair words not just by their definitions, but by how you might engage with them in real life. This particular puzzle was a bit tough for me since several concepts intertwined closely right from the start, making it difficult to connect the correct words without clear hints.
While you won’t be creating a visual representation like some puzzles in the New York Times games, the words presented today might have you wishing you could visualize your answers. Remember that you only have four guesses to get it right, so take a good look at each word. Initial instincts might be misleading, as many of the pairings could trick you with seemingly straightforward connections.
Today’s Connections Category Hints
Puzzle Date: April 22, 2025 #681
I successfully solved today’s puzzle by identifying the overarching theme, which revolves around how we interact with certain words. This puzzle places less importance on the dictionary meanings of words and focuses more on how they’re perceived through our five senses. For instance, the word "GREASE" suggests a slippery substance, and the connection lies in the physical interaction of slipping on it.
To assist you further, here are some clues related to the categories of available words:
- The first category involves terms related to terminating a project.
- The next category refers to objects typically found in a pottery studio, like a lovely vase.
- Another category features items you might trip over if you stepped on them.
- The last category includes natural elements that can make you feel hot.
Today’s Connections Answers
Puzzle Date: April 22, 2025 #681
Yellow Answers: Clarification
| Category: Cancel, as a Project | Words |
|---|---|
| AXE | |
| DROP | |
| CUT | |
| SCRAP |
The word "SCRAP" was my first clue in this category, standing out from the others. Having canceled several projects myself, I recognized that "SCRAP," "AXE," and "DROP" all imply stopping something you’ve been working on, which helped me gather most of the right words.
Green Answers: Clarification
| Category: Seen in a Pottery Studio | Words |
|---|---|
| CLAY | |
| GLAZE | |
| KILN | |
| WHEEL |
The term "KILN" sprang to mind instantly, as it specifically refers to an oven used for firing clay. Recalling my own art experience, I remembered that you apply glaze to clay before placing it in the kiln, while a pottery wheel can also help shape the clay.
Blue Answers: Clarification
| Category: Things That Are Slippery | Words |
|---|---|
| ICE | |
| GREASE | |
| BANANA PEEL | |
| EEL |
I initially misclassified "GREASE," incorrectly associating it with the pottery section. However, common slipping hazards like "BANANA PEEL," "ICE," and "GREASE" emphasize how they interact in a slippery way, just like an "EEL."
Purple Answers: Clarification
| Category: Natural Producers of Heat | Words |
|---|---|
| VOLCANO | |
| SUN | |
| FIRE | |
| LIGHTNING |
This category was particularly challenging due to the elemental associations with FIRE, ICE, and LIGHTNING. However, it occurred to me that both the SUN and VOLCANO can cause burns upon interaction, establishing the connections.
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