Dote Severance: The Clever Wordplay in NYT Connections Puzzle #635

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The New York Times Connections puzzle #635, released on March 7, 2025, has created quite a buzz among both word game enthusiasts and fans of the popular TV show Severance. The puzzle cleverly incorporates the word “dote” and several Severance references, though not in the way many players initially expected. This ingenious misdirection has sparked discussions across social media platforms, with players appreciating the puzzle’s creative design and challenging wordplay.

The Severance Connection That Wasn’t

At first glance, many players spotted familiar Severance-related terms scattered throughout puzzle #635. The inclusion of character names like Mark, Dylan, Irving, and Helena, along with the ominous company name Lumon, immediately caught the attention of show enthusiasts. These obvious references led many players to assume that at least one of the puzzle’s four categories would directly relate to the dystopian workplace drama.

According to Sportskeeda, these Severance terms were strategically placed throughout the puzzle grid, creating an immediate sense of recognition for fans of the show. However, this turned out to be an elaborate red herring designed to challenge even the most devoted puzzle solvers.

The Clever Misdirection

ScreenRant reports that despite the obvious Severance references, none of the puzzle’s actual solution categories directly related to the show. This deliberate misdirection added an extra layer of complexity to an already challenging puzzle, forcing players to think beyond their initial assumptions.

The puzzle creators demonstrated remarkable ingenuity by incorporating these Severance Easter eggs as decoys rather than solutions. This approach exemplifies the sophisticated puzzle design that has made the NYT Connections game a daily ritual for word game enthusiasts nationwide.

“The misdirection was key to what made this game a talking point, highlighting the game’s ability to surprise and engage.”

Decoding “Dote” in the Purple Category

Among the puzzle’s most challenging elements was the purple category, notorious for being the most difficult grouping to identify. The word “dote” appeared in this category alongside “ample,” “lumon,” and “poach.” At first glance, these words seem to have little in common, especially with “lumon” reinforcing the Severance connection in players’ minds.

According to ScreenRant’s analysis, the purple category was eventually revealed to be “Fruits with their second letters changed.” This clever wordplay required players to recognize that:

• “dote” represents “date” (the fruit) with its second letter changed
• “ample” comes from “apple”
• “lumon” is derived from “lemon”
• “poach” originates from “peach”

This unexpected twist perfectly encapsulates why the NYT Connections puzzle has developed such a devoted following. The game consistently challenges players to identify patterns and connections that aren’t immediately obvious, often requiring lateral thinking and linguistic creativity.

Why This Puzzle Resonated With Players

The March 7 puzzle garnered particular attention due to its multi-layered approach to challenge. By incorporating recognizable Severance references while simultaneously requiring players to look beyond them, the puzzle created a satisfying “aha” moment when the true solutions were discovered.

Word game enthusiasts particularly appreciated the craftsmanship involved in constructing the “Fruits with their second letters changed” category. The transformation of familiar fruit names into new words demonstrates the linguistic versatility that makes Connections puzzles both frustrating and rewarding.

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