NYT Connections Answers and Hints for Today: Tuesday, November 25

Stuck on today’s New York Times Connections puzzle? You’re not alone. Puzzle #897 brings another round of tricky word groupings featuring 16 terms and four hidden themes — and many players are scratching their heads. If you need a nudge, or just want the full solution, we’ve got you covered.

Below, you’ll find light hints, category clues, and the full answer key for today’s puzzle.

How Connections Works

NYT Connections is a daily word puzzle where players group 16 words into four related categories. Each set is color-coded by difficulty:

• Yellow (easiest)
• Green (easy)
• Blue (medium)
• Purple (hardest)

Players must find all four groups without making a fourth mistake — or the game ends automatically.

Today’s Connections Words (November 25):

• MICKEY MOUSE • BUG BITE • SUNNY-SIDE UP • CALAMINE LOTION
• VINYL RECORD • FLAMINGO • YOUR HEAD • HAPPY MEAL
• BARBIE DREAMHOUSE • LOTTERY TICKET • GLAD-HAND • RINKY-DINK
• MERRY-GO-ROUND • CHERRY BLOSSOM • TRIVIAL • TWO-BIT

Hints for November 25 Connections

If you want a gentle nudge rather than a full spoiler, start here:

• Yellow: Think insignificant or small-scale.
• Green: These items share a color.
• Blue: Something connects them through an action.
• Purple: These words begin with something positive or upbeat.

Additional clues:

"Bug bite" and "two-bit" are NOT in the same category.

Barbie and Mickey belong to different groups.

Still stuck? Here’s one word from each category:

• Yellow: Trivial
• Green: Flamingo
• Blue: Your head
• Purple: Happy meal

Today’s Category Themes

If you’re ready for the next step:

• Yellow: Small-time
• Green: Things that are pink
• Blue: Things you can scratch
• Purple: Starting with optimistic words

Today’s NYT Connections Answers (November 25)

Here’s the full solution:

Category Words

Yellow — Small-time Mickey Mouse, Rinky-dink, Trivial, Two-bit

Green — Things That Are Pink Barbie Dreamhouse, Calamine Lotion, Cherry Blossom, Flamingo

Blue — Things You Can Scratch Bug Bite, Lottery Ticket, Vinyl Record, Your Head

Purple — Starting With Optimistic Words Glad-hand, Happy Meal, Merry-go-round, Sunny-side up

Today’s puzzle leaned heavily on wordplay and figurative meanings, particularly in the yellow and purple groups. The pink-themed green category came together quickly for many players, while the blue scratchable items tripped up a few with overlapping logic.

Whether you solved it solo or needed a hint, congrats — and don’t forget, a fresh puzzle drops every night at midnight.