Sharpen your vocabulary with the June 27, 2025 Letter Boxed puzzle. Once you’ve solved it, scroll down to compare your answer with the official New York Times solution.
HTP
GCA
MEL
DAMPER
Step-by-Step Explanation
Goal of the Puzzle:
Form a sequence of words where:
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Each word uses only letters from the box.
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No two consecutive letters in a word can come from the same side of the box.
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The second word must start with the last letter of the first word.
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Try to use all 12 letters at least once, across all words.
First Word: GLITCHED
Let’s break down each letter:
Letter | Side | Valid? |
---|---|---|
G | Bottom (GCA) | ✅ |
L | Left (MEL) | ✅ |
I | Top (IRD) | ✅ |
T | Right (HTP) | ✅ |
C | Bottom (GCA) | ✅ |
H | Right (HTP) | ✅ |
E | Left (MEL) | ✅ |
D | Top (IRD) | ✅ |
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All letters come from different sides (no repeats from the same side in a row).
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The word glitched is valid and means “experienced a fault or error,” often used in tech or gaming contexts.
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It ends in D, so the next word must start with D.
Transition:
GLITCHED ends in D → next word must start with D
Second Word: DAMPER
Now, break down each letter:
Letter | Side | Valid? |
---|---|---|
D | Top (IRD) | ✅ |
A | Bottom (GCA) | ✅ |
M | Left (MEL) | ✅ |
P | Right (HTP) | ✅ |
E | Left (MEL) | ✅ |
R | Top (IRD) | ✅ |
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All letters are valid.
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No two consecutive letters come from the same side.
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Damper means something that reduces intensity, like a mood killer or a mechanical device.
Why This is the Correct Answer:
Criteria | Met? |
---|---|
Uses only letters from the box | ✅ |
No side used twice in a row | ✅ |
Second word starts with last letter | ✅ |
Real, meaningful words | ✅ |
Covers most or all of the 12 letters | ✅ |
Together, GLITCHED → DAMPER forms a seamless two-word chain using the box’s letters correctly while following the game rules.
Meaning Behind the Words:
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GLITCHED: Indicates an error, bug, or malfunction, commonly in systems or tech.
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DAMPER: Something that softens, slows down, or suppresses. It can be literal (like in machines) or metaphorical (e.g., “It put a damper on the mood”).
So, the chain could tell a story:
“It GLITCHED and caused a DAMPER effect.”
This Letter Boxed solution is not only valid but also clever in its use of vocabulary and complete use of the puzzle mechanics. Both words are strongly connected in meaning, and they make full use of the given letters without repeating sides.