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Cracking July 21, 2025 NYT Connections: A Walk‑Through, Hint Ladder, and Full Solution

Posted on July 21, 2025 — by Staff Writer

Time to Solve:12
Word Count:~232 words

Ah, the sweet allure of the word "regifting"—a delightful nod to the art of recycling presents! Today’s puzzle invites you to navigate a whimsical world of concepts, from the physics of liquids to the quirky gems of 'Seinfeld.' Will you find the icing on the cake or merely the extra gravy? Grab your thinking cap and let’s dive into this colorful conundrum, where each hue holds its own treasure trove of words waiting to be discovered.


What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is The New York Times' daily word-association puzzle that challenges you to group 16 seemingly random words into four hidden categories. Each set of Connections answers is unique, ranging from pop-culture references to tricky linguistic twists, making it a fresh brain-teaser every day. Whether you're hunting for subtle hints, full solutions, or an archive of past puzzles, our site delivers everything you need to conquer today's NYT Connections and sharpen your puzzle-solving skills.


Today's Grid

BONUS
EXTRA
GRAVY
ICING
CONDENSATION
FREEZING
MELTING
VAPORIZATION
FESTIVUS
REGIFTING
SHRINKAGE
YADA YADA
CONTRACTION
FOOT
POSSESSIVE
QUOTE

Remember: the NYT shuffles the tiles each time you open the puzzle, so your on‑screen layout might differ. The words themselves, however, are identical.


Hints

No hints are available for this puzzle.


🎉 Full Solution (Spoilers Ahead!) 🎉

Nailed it in four? 🎯 Gold star! Needed a few swings first? You're in fine company—the purple decoys were downright devious today.


Strategy Spotlight: How to Approach This Puzzle

In this puzzle, solvers often get stuck when trying to identify the connections between seemingly unrelated terms. For instance, the words "bonus," "extra," "gravy," and "icing" can easily be confused with terms that might relate to other categories, as they all suggest some form of additional value or enhancement. Similarly, the terms in the green group—"condensation," "freezing," "melting," and "vaporization"—might trip players up if they focus too narrowly on the states of matter without recognizing that they are all phases of liquid transitions. The challenge lies in recognizing these connections while avoiding the temptation to mix terms that could belong to different categories.

To distinguish the real groups from decoys, solvers should look for common themes or processes inherent in the terms. For example, with the blue group, all terms are directly related to the television series "Seinfeld," making it easier to categorize them based on cultural references. In contrast, players might misplace terms like "quote" and "possessive" in other groups if they do not take into account that the purple group specifically deals with grammatical indicators. A strong understanding of the context behind each word can significantly aid in sorting them into their correct categories.

One useful heuristic for solvers is to first identify all the terms that clearly fit into a category before attempting to match the more ambiguous words. This approach helps to narrow down the possibilities and makes it easier to spot the correct groupings. Additionally, players should be mindful of common phrases or concepts that can serve as clues; for example, recognizing that "regifting" and "Festivus" are specific to "Seinfeld" can quickly clarify the blue category. By applying these strategies, players can enhance their efficiency in solving similar puzzles in the future.


Final Thoughts

With a playful mix of science and sitcoms, today’s puzzle had us melting and freezing in all the right ways. The purples were particularly devilish, but that only adds to the charm! Join us again tomorrow for more wordplay adventures!

Happy connecting, and see you in the squares!