Stumped By Today’s NYT Connections (April 23)? Here’s Your Guide To Cracking Puzzle #681
As Connections fans know, a small hint can go a long way in this theme-guessing puzzle.
NYT Connections Answers: If today’s Connections puzzle from The New York Times left you scratching your head, you’re not alone. Puzzle #681, dated Wednesday, April 23, had its fair share of red herrings and deceptive groupings — but we’re here to help you make sense of it all. From subtle wordplays to tricky associations, this edition packed quite a challenge for daily solvers.
So, whether you're a seasoned word sleuth or a curious newcomer, this guide will walk you through today's Connections clues, provide a few nudges in the right direction, and yes — reveal the full solution (if you’re ready for it).
Nature Calls: Yellow Group Hints at Trees
The yellow category, always considered the easiest of the bunch, was rooted in — quite literally — the natural world. The theme? Parts of a tree. Words like Branch, Leaf, Root, and Trunk made up this group. It was a relatively straightforward set, but only if you weren’t distracted by similarly organic-sounding words in the list.
The 16 words in play today were:
Bean, Gag, Trunk, Muzzle, Tail, May, Act, Paw, Tad, Bit, Root, Sketch, Branch, Flag, Fur, Leaf.
While some seemed to obviously relate to nature, others led solvers into false thematic territories. That’s the charm — and the frustration — of Connections.
Feline Confusion: Green Group Gets Hairy
Up next was the green group, which leaned into the world of animals — but not just any animals. This set focused on Canine/Feline Features, throwing many players off by walking the line between general animal traits and cat-or-dog specificity. The correct answers here were Fur, Muzzle, Paw, and Tail.
This particular set played on anatomy, and it helped to think in terms of pets and predators alike. A clever theme that rewarded players who thought both literally and visually.
Ready for a Laugh? Blue Group Brings the Gags
The blue category served up a humorous twist — but only for those who could tune into the performative side of language. The theme? Comedic Routine. That’s right — think classic stand-up lingo. The correct groupings here were Act, Bit, Gag, and Sketch.
It was a set that might’ve tripped up solvers who didn’t immediately connect these words with comedy rather than, say, art or drama. But once the idea clicked, the pattern was clear.
Purple Puzzle: Pole Position
Saving the hardest for last, the purple category had a fiendish theme: each word could be completed by the suffix “Pole.” That meant Beanpole, Flagpole, Maypole, and Tadpole were your connections. Talk about a linguistic curveball.
As the most obscure theme of the day, this grouping likely caused the most failed attempts. “None of the themes contain two or more words starting with the same letter,” noted the clue — a subtle hint to keep solvers from leaning too heavily on alliteration.
If you're still reading, chances are you’re either double-checking your guesses or curious to learn how close you got. In either case, here's a quick recap of the winning groups:
- Yellow: Parts of a Tree – Branch, Leaf, Root, Trunk
- Green: Canine/Feline Features – Fur, Muzzle, Paw, Tail
- Blue: Comedic Routine – Act, Bit, Gag, Sketch
- Purple: ___Pole – Bean, Flag, May, Tad
And if you didn’t get it all right today? Don’t sweat it. As Connections fans know, a small hint can go a long way in this theme-guessing puzzle. There’s always tomorrow — and another batch of tricky words to unravel.
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