NYT Connections Hints and Answers for November 13, 2025, #886

Happy Thursday, solvers! As the weather turns crisp and cool, I can't help but think of the delightful seasonal treats that make this time of year so special. From pumpkin spice lattes to refreshing popsicles and tart lemonade, there's something for everyone to enjoy in the colorful palette of fall flavors.

Speaking of colors, today's "Connections" puzzle is a vibrant mix of yellow, green, blue, and purple clues that will challenge your wordplay skills. Keep an eye out for sneaky decoys and scan for loose synonyms as you navigate through the puzzle's diverse themes and categories.

Just like pairing the perfect pumpkin spice latte with a sweet treat, finding the right connections in today's puzzle requires a mix of strategy and creativity. So, are you ready to dive in and discover the hidden links between the clues? Don't be afraid to ask for hints or share your own tips as we unravel this 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