NYT Connections Hints and Answers for November 14, 2025, #888

Happy Friday, puzzlers! Hope you're all set to kick off the weekend with some brain-teasing fun. Today's a day for crossing off items on the to-do list, whether it's a quick grocery run or an unexpected errand encounter. I had a close call with a runaway cart at the store earlier, its squeaky wheel echoing through the aisles as I dodged it like a ninja in the produce section.

As you dive into today's Connections puzzle, keep an eye out for those sneaky yellow and green clues—they can lead you down a rabbit hole of word association. Remember, sometimes the most unlikely connections hold the key to unlocking the puzzle grid. So, scan for loose synonyms, watch out for cross-category decoys, and trust your instincts.

Are you ready to unravel the web of connections waiting for you today? Don't be shy to reveal a hint or two if you get stuck, or jump right in and see where the clues take you. Let's turn this Friday into a fun and fulfilling puzzling adventure together!

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