NYT Connections Hints and Answers for November 14, 2025, #887

Happy Friday, puzzlers! Hope you're all cruising into the weekend like a sailboat on a gentle breeze. Speaking of cruising, I had a little lunch mishap today. Leftovers in the fridge morphed into a colorful science experiment. Let's just say I won't be attempting a taste test anytime soon. Note to self: label those containers next time!

Today's puzzle is a delightful mix of yellow, green, and blue tiers, offering a variety of challenges to tickle your brain cells. As you dive in, keep an eye out for those sneaky cross-category decoys that might throw you off course. Remember, a keen eye for loose synonyms will be your trusty compass through this puzzling voyage.

Now, here's a question for you: Can you spot the subtle connections between the clues and weave them into a tapestry of answers? It's like untangling a ball of yarn – a bit tricky at first, but oh-so satisfying once you see the pattern emerge. So, grab a cozy spot, pour yourself a warm drink, and let's unravel this puzzle together. Need a hint or two? Just give a shout!

How to Play NYT Connections

Overview

Connections is a daily word puzzle game from The New York Times. The goal is to find groups of four words that share something in common. You’re presented with 16 words arranged in a 4×4 grid, and you must identify four groups of four related words.

Basic Rules

• You have 16 words total, arranged in a 4×4 grid
• There are exactly 4 groups of 4 related words each
• Each word belongs to exactly one group
• You must find all four groups to complete the puzzle
• You have 4 mistakes allowed before the game ends

How to Play

• Look at all 16 words and try to identify patterns or connections
• Select 4 words you think belong together by clicking/tapping them
• Click “Submit” to check if your group is correct
• If correct, those 4 words will be removed and grouped together
• If incorrect, you lose one of your 4 allowed mistakes
• Continue until you find all 4 groups or run out of mistakes

Difficulty Levels

The four groups are color-coded by difficulty:

• 🟨 YELLOW: Easiest – usually straightforward categories
• 🟩 GREEN: Easy-Medium – slightly more complex connections
• 🟦 BLUE: Medium-Hard – trickier associations or wordplay
• 🟪 PURPLE: Hardest – often involves puns, multiple meanings, or very subtle connections

Strategy Tips

• Start with the most obvious connections first
• Be careful of red herrings – words that seem to fit multiple categories
• If you’re unsure, try to eliminate what doesn’t belong first
• The purple group often involves wordplay, homophones, or very creative connections
• Don’t guess randomly – you only have 4 mistakes

Scoring

• Complete the puzzle to see your results
• Mistakes are tracked but don’t affect your final score
• Share your results with friends using the share button
• Results show how many mistakes you made for each group