NYT Connections puzzle #681 was published Tuesday, April 22, 2025. Use the spoiler-light clues below before scrolling to the category labels and complete answer key.
The 16 words in Connections #681
The grid contains ICE, WHEEL, GREASE, LIGHTNING, FIRE, EEL, AXE, SUN, CLAY, SCRAP, VOLCANO, GLAZE, DROP, BANANA PEEL, KILN, and CUT.
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Hints for April 22
- Yellow: Halt.
- Green: Making china pots.
- Blue: Slide away.
- Purple: Hot, hot, hot.
Spoiler alert: The category labels and word groups appear below.
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Yellow: CANCEL, AS A PROJECT
AXE, CUT, DROP, SCRAP
Green: SEEN IN A POTTERY STUDIO
CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, WHEEL
Blue: THINGS THAT ARE SLIPPERY
BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, ICE
Purple: NATURAL PRODUCERS OF HEAT
FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, VOLCANO
Why the groups fit
Connections presents 16 words and asks players to sort them into four groups of four based on a shared connection. The New York Times Help Center describes the groups as yellow, green, blue, and purple, from easiest to trickiest, and notes that words can seem to fit more than one category even though each puzzle has one solution. NYT Connections Help.
#1 Best Overall
- Yellow: AXE, CUT, DROP, and SCRAP can all mean ending or canceling a project.
- Green: CLAY, GLAZE, KILN, and WHEEL are found in a pottery studio.
- Blue: BANANA PEEL, EEL, GREASE, and ICE are slippery.
- Purple: FIRE, LIGHTNING, SUN, and VOLCANO are natural producers of heat.
Playing the puzzle now
Connections releases at midnight in a player’s timezone, so the date shown can differ by location. The game is available on NYT Games web and apps. The New York Times Help Center currently says subscribers can access the puzzle archive back to June 12, 2023; subscription and archive availability can change. NYT Connections Help.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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