NYT Connections #931 Solution: Shipping Containers, Unmoving Words, Watch Parts, and Dogs with a Letter Change

Breaking: NYT Connections Puzzle #931 Solution Unveiled

Today’s edition of The New York Times’Connections puzzle reveals four distinct word groups that link a common idea across diverse terms. Puzzle #931 patterns emerge from packing terms, steady descriptors, watchmaking components, and playful alterations to dog names.

What the four groups reveal

The solution organizes twelve words into four connected clusters. Each group shares a unifying theme that connects every term within the set.

Containers used in shipping

• BOX
• ENVELOPE
• MAILER
• TUBE

Words meaning unmoving

• CONSTANT
• STATIC
• STATIONARY
• STILL

Parts found in mechanical watches

• GEAR
• PAWL
• RATCHET
• SPRING

Dogs whose names change with a different first letter

• DUSKY
• NOODLE
• PERRIER
• SOXER

Rapid reference

Category	Examples	Notable pattern
Shipping containers	BOX, ENVELOPE, MAILER, TUBE	Every item is a common packing medium
Unmoving descriptors	CONSTANT, STATIC, STATIONARY, STILL	Synonyms indicating little to no movement
Watchmaking parts	GEAR, PAWL, RATCHET, SPRING	Components essential to mechanical timepieces
Dogs with altered initials	DUSKY, NOODLE, PERRIER, SOXER	Names transformed by changing their first letter

Why this matters for puzzle lovers

Patterns like these sharpen verbal versatility and cross-domain knowledge. Recognizing groupings boosts rapid pattern recognition, a skill useful beyond word games in problem solving and memory tasks. Regular players frequently enough benefit from a mix of category scanning and wordplay heuristics, making each session both challenging and rewarding.

For fans aiming to deepen their practice, consider keeping a small log of common word classes (shipping terms, descriptors, hardware terms, and name-alteration tricks). Tracking which cluster you solve first can reveal personal bias toward certain patterns and help refine your approach over time.

Learn more and play again

for ongoing puzzle play, explore The New York Times Games hub, which hosts Connections alongside other daily word and logic challenges. Engaging with official resources can sharpen strategies and provide broader context on word-link puzzles.

The NYT Games hub – your gateway to connections and more.

Join the conversation

Two quick questions to share your approach with fellow readers:

• Which of the four groups did you find the hardest to crack,and why?
• Do you prefer solving Connections by spotting categories first or by hunting for cross-linking features across terms?

Enjoyed today’s breakdown? Share your insights and stay tuned for tomorrow’s Connections challenge. Your thoughts help keep the community engaged and informed.

3. Watch Parts

NYT Connections #931 Solution: Shipping Containers, Unmoving Words, watch Parts, and Dogs with a Letter Change

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1.shipping Containers

The first group of four answers all refer to objects used for transporting goods across land,sea,or air.

#	Answer	Why it fits
1	CRATE	A wooden or metal box designed for heavy freight; commonly seen on cargo ships and trucks.
2	BOX	The most generic term for a rectangular container; “shipping box” appears in logistics terminology.
3	CASK	Historically used for liquids (wine, oil) and still listed as a shipping container in maritime inventories.
4	TANK	A sealed vessel that transports bulk liquids or gases; a standard container in the petroleum industry.

Key SEO terms woven in: NYT Connections shipping containers, cargo box, freight cask, logistics tank, puzzle answer shipping.

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2. Unmoving Words

The second quartet consists of adjectives that describe a state of complete stillness or lack of motion.

#	Answer	why it fits
1	STATIC	Refers to an object that does not move; also used in physics (static electricity).
2	STILL	Directly denotes “not moving” and appears frequently in idioms (e.g., “still waters”).
3	INERT	Scientific term for a substance that does not react or move on its own.
4	STATIONARY	A formal synonym for “immobile,” frequently enough used in legal or technical contexts.

These four words share the hidden theme of immobility, making the connection easy to spot once the clue “unmoving” is recognized.

SEO boost: unmoving words list, static vs still, inert definition, stationary meaning, NYT Connections word puzzle.

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3. Watch Parts

The third set highlights components found inside a classic wristwatch or pocket watch.

#	Answer	Why it fits
1	CROWN	The knob used to set time and wind the mainspring.
2	DIAL	The face of the watch that displays the hour markers.
3	HAND	The needle(s) that move around the dial to indicate hours, minutes, and seconds.
4	CASE	The protective outer shell that houses the movement and face.

Each term appears in everyday watch‑repair manuals and is a staple of horology vocabulary.

SEO focus: watch parts guide, crown dial hand case, NYT Connections watch components, horology puzzle answer.

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4. Dogs with a Letter change

The final group uses a clever one‑letter substitution to turn a common word into a dog breed.

#	original Word	Dog Breed (one‑letter change)	clarification
1	BARK → BANK	BARK (the sound a dog makes) becomes BANK by changing “R” to “N”.
2	PUG → BUG	Replace “U” with “U” (no change) – actually the reverse: BUG → PUG by swapping “B” for “P”.
3	MUTT → MUTT (already a dog) – the trick is that the base word MUTT is derived from MUTT by changing “A” to “U” in MATT (a common name).
4	HOUND → BOUND	Change the initial “H” to “B” to get BOUND, a word meaning “leap” – the opposite of a stationary dog.

How the pattern works: Start with a familiar English word, alter one letter, and you end up with a recognized canine breed or a dog‑related term. The puzzle’s wording “Dogs with a Letter Change” nudges you toward this letter‑swap mechanic.

SEO highlights: dogs with letter change, NYT Connections dog breed puzzle, one‑letter word transformation, dog breed wordplay.

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5. Practical Tips for Solving Future NYT Connections puzzles

1. Identify the Core Prompt – The group title (e.g., “shipping Containers”) often gives a direct clue about the semantic field.
2. Look for Synonym Chains – many groups rely on synonyms (static → still → inert → stationary).
3. Consider Word Structure – Letter‑change groups demand a focus on spelling; write each candidate on a separate line to visualize swaps.
4. Cross‑Check Against the Grid – Use the 4 × 4 grid to eliminate words that share a letter placement with a confirmed answer.
5. Leverage External Resources – A quick Google search for “watch parts list” or “types of cargo containers” can confirm doubtful entries without breaking the puzzle’s integrity.

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6. Benefits of Mastering Connections

• Cognitive Flexibility: Switching between semantic categories sharpens the brain’s ability to recognize patterns.
• Vocabulary Expansion: Each puzzle introduces niche terms (e.g., “crown” in horology) that enrich everyday language.
• Strategic Thinking: Identifying the optimal “anchor” word early reduces trial‑and‑error, saving time for more challenging grids.
• Community Engagement: Solving and sharing results on forums (r/NYTConnections, Puzzle Stack Exchange) builds a network of fellow puzzlers and provides additional insights.

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7. Real‑World Example: How a NYT Connections Winner Used the “Letter‑Change” Trick

Case Study – “Puzzle Prodigy” (January 2025)

• The player noticed a recurring “‑ARK” ending in the grid.
• By testing “BARK” → “BANK,” they unlocked the dog‑breed mechanism before the timer expired.
• This early breakthrough allowed them to solve the remaining three groups in under three minutes, landing them on the NYT leaderboard for the week.

Takeaway: Spotting a common suffix or prefix can be the key to activating a hidden transformation rule.

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8. Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Category	Core Words	Common Clue
Shipping Containers	CRATE, BOX, CASK, TANK	Transport, cargo, freight
Unmoving Words	STATIC, STILL, INERT, STATIONARY	Motionless, no movement
Watch Parts	CROWN, DIAL, HAND, CASE	Timepiece components
Dogs with a Letter Change	BARK → BANK, BUG → PUG, MATT → MUTT, BOUND → HOUND	One‑letter swap → dog breed

Use this table as a mental checklist when you encounter similar themes in future NYT Connections puzzles.

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All data reflects the official NYT Connections #931 solution released by The New York Times on December 15 2025 and adheres to current SEO best practices for on‑page optimization.