NYT Connections Hints and Answers for November 15, 2025, #889

Well hello, Saturday solvers! Hope you're not starting your day like I did, with burnt toast begging for a second chance and an almost-empty milk carton playing hard to get. But hey, every mishap is just a crunchy opportunity for improvement, right?

As we dive into today's Connections puzzle, remember to keep your senses sharp, much like a detective on the hunt for clues. Look for those subtle hints and connections between the color tiers, and don't let those sneaky decoys lead you astray.

Just like rescuing breakfast from the brink of disaster, untangling these word webs requires a mix of strategy and gut instinct. Scan for synonyms, watch out for those tricky cross-category word traps, and remember that every wrong turn brings you one step closer to the aha moment.

So, are you ready to give those brain cells a workout? Let's crack this puzzle wide open and see what surprises are in store. Need a hint or just want to jump right in? The grid's waiting for you to make those connections!

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