NYT Connections Hints and Answers for November 23, 2025, #897

Happy Sunday, puzzle pals! Today's a day for cozying up with a hot drink and diving into some brain teasers. As I was sipping my coffee this morning, I found myself lost in thought, staring out the window at the swirling clouds. It's funny how the mind can wander off into its own little puzzle world, isn't it?

In today's "Connections" challenge, keep an eye out for those tricky yellow tier clues that might lead you down the wrong path. Scan each clue carefully, and watch out for decoys that seem to fit perfectly but might just be leading you astray. Remember, sometimes the most obvious answer isn't the right one!

So, why not grab your favorite warm beverage, settle in by the window like I did, and give today's puzzle a whirl? If you get stuck, don't hesitate to ask for a hint or two. Let's crack these clues together and make this Sunday a fun and puzzling adventure!

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