If you seek the Connections solution for April 22, 2025, you’re in the right place. Here, you’ll find valuable hints, strategies, and, ultimately, the solutions for each of the four categories. As we progress, I’ll clarify some of the more challenging terms, allowing us to piece everything together. Warning: Spoilers for April 22, NYT Connections #681 await below! Continue reading for useful insights (and the solutions) related to today’s game.

For easy access to our daily hints for Connections, consider bookmarking this page. Past hints are available here, too, should you wish to revisit earlier puzzles.

Below, you will find subtle clues regarding today’s Connections answers. Further down is a detailed disclosure of themes and answers. Scroll at your own pace and take only the hints you find necessary!

Credit: Connections/NYT

Hints for Today’s Themes

Here are some spoiler-free hints related to this edition’s groupings:

• Yellow category – It’s a thing of the past.

• Green category – Useful in crafting mugs or bowls.

• Blue category – Be cautious of slippery surfaces.

• Purple category – Heat generators.

WARNING: Spoilers Ahead!

We’re about to disclose the answers. Proceed cautiously if you wish to avoid any spoilers. (The complete answers will be revealed shortly.)

Understanding the Challenging Terms

Note that SCRAP can function as a verb.

In arid regions, LIGHTNING often leads to specific natural disasters.

A KILN is an extremely high-temperature chamber used in the finishing of CLAY items.

If familiar with video games like Mario Kart or various cartoons, it’s wise to avoid BANANA PEELs due to their notorious effects.

Categories for Today’s Connections

• Yellow: CANCEL, AS A PROJECT

• Green: SEEN IN A POTTERY STUDIO

• Blue: SLIPPERY ITEMS

• Purple: NATURAL SOURCES OF HEAT

DOUBLE WARNING: Solutions are Below

Ready to discover the answers to today’s Connections puzzle? They’re listed below.

Yellow Words in Today’s Puzzle

This yellow grouping is notably straightforward. The theme is CANCEL, AS A PROJECT, and the corresponding words are: AXE, CUT, DROP, SCRAP.

Green Words in Today’s Puzzle

The green category is intended to be relatively easy. The theme for this section is SEEN IN A POTTERY STUDIO, with the words: CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, WHEEL.

Blue Words in Today’s Puzzle

This blue category is moderately challenging. The theme revolves around SLIPPERY ITEMS, which include: BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, ICE.

Purple Words in Today’s Puzzle

Characterized as the most challenging, the purple group has the theme of NATURAL SOURCES OF HEAT, with the words: FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, VOLCANO.

Solving Today’s Connections

At first glance, this board does not appear overly complex. Let’s investigate.

The elements FIRE, SUN, KILN, and VOLCANO are all potential sources of significant heat. Perhaps LIGHTNING should replace KILN, as KILN seems to be the only non-natural element here.

The terms BANANA PEEL and SCRAP could represent leftover refuse—GREASE fits this group too.

Furthermore, SCRAP connects well with DROP, CUT, and AXE! It feels like a solid match.

KILN indeed goes with CLAY, GLAZE, and WHEEL, each being integral to the pottery-making process.

This leaves EEL, BANANA PEEL, ICE, and GREASE, which all share the quality of being slippery!

Connections
Puzzle #681
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Playing Connections

For those unfamiliar, a comprehensive guide to Connections is available, but here’s a brief recap:

First, locate the Connections game either on the New York Times website or in their Games app (previously known as the Crossword app). You will encounter a game board featuring 16 tiles, each depicting a word or phrase. Your task is to identify a group of four tiles that share a common theme. They are often of the same variety (for instance: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all forms of precipitation), but sometimes clever wordplay is involved (for example, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH can be interpreted as types of lists: bucket list, guest list, etc.).

Select four items and press the Submit button. If your selection is correct, the category and color will be revealed (yellow indicates the easiest tier, followed by green, blue, and finally purple). In the case of an incorrect guess, you will get another opportunity to try again.

Victory is achieved when all four groups are identified correctly. However, if you make four mistakes without finishing, the game concludes, and the answers will be displayed.

Tips for Winning Connections

To excel at Connections, understanding that the groupings can be deceptive is crucial. Overlapping categories are common. For instance, during one puzzle there were several breakfast items: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. However, BACON turned out to be part of a category of painters alongside CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, while EGG belonged to a category comprising items typically found in dozens (including JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). Thus, refrain from hitting “submit” until you’re certain your group of four consists exclusively of those four items.

If you’re feeling stuck, a helpful strategy is to focus on words that seem unrelated to the others. For example, when encountering WHISTLER, if your thoughts lead to the famous painting known as “Whistler’s Mother,” you might be on the right track. This approach can lead to other overhead connections that are less straightforward.

For further assistance, exploring hints is advisable—this is why daily pointers are offered. Return tomorrow for the next puzzle!