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NY Times Puzzle #861: Unraveling Words in Color Groups

10/20/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On October 19, 2025, The New York Times released Puzzle #861 of its Connections game, rated 2 out of 5 in difficulty.
The yellow group includes words related to falling: fall, spill, tumble, wipeout.
The green group focuses on book parts: cover, jacket, leaves, spine.
The blue group lists temper expressions: bug, flip, freak, wig.
The purple group features chocolate bars with an extra letter: crunchy, dover, marsh, skort.

History

Historical Context

The New York Times launched its first crossword puzzle in February 1942, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon that attracted over 100,000 daily solvers. This trend evolved with the introduction of NYT Games, officially established in 2014, which now boasts over 10 million daily players. The 2025 release of the Connections game highlights the ongoing popularity of interactive word puzzles, fostering critical thinking and engagement.

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Story summary

On October 19, 2025, The New York Times released Puzzle #861 of its Connections game, rated 2 out of 5 in difficulty.
The yellow group includes words related to falling: fall, spill, tumble, wipeout.
The green group focuses on book parts: cover, jacket, leaves, spine.
The blue group lists temper expressions: bug, flip, freak, wig.
The purple group features chocolate bars with an extra letter: crunchy, dover, marsh, skort.

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