NYT Connections Hints for November 16: Puzzle #889 Answers, Categories, and Full Breakdown
NYT Connections Puzzle #889 for November 16 brings a balanced mix of vocabulary, visual clues, and nostalgic themes. While the yellow and green groups were easier for players, the purple Monopoly-themed category proved the most challenging. Here’s the full breakdown of hints and answers.
Players struggled with the tricky purple category in today’s NYT Connections Puzzle #889, featuring themes ranging from everyday vocabulary to classic Monopoly squares.
The New York Times has released the latest edition of its popular daily word game, NYT Connections, for November 16. Puzzle #889 brings a well-balanced mix of categories—though many players found today’s purple group especially challenging, while the yellow and green groups were easier to crack.
Below is a complete breakdown of today’s hints, themes, and confirmed answers to help solvers navigate each category with ease.
NYT Connections November 16: Full Category Breakdown
Puzzle #889 continues the game’s classic structure, featuring four sets of four words arranged by difficulty—from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest). Today’s board blends daily vocabulary with pop-culture references and even a nod to classic board games.
Tech outlets including CNET noted that the purple set is the trickiest of the day.
Yellow Group — Techniques and Approaches
Answers: Approach, Method, Philosophy, School
This category focuses on different ways of doing or thinking about something. These words are commonly used in academic, creative, and professional contexts.
Green Group — Ordinary or Commonplace
Answers: Banal, Everyday, Humdrum, Pedestrian
Each word highlights something plain, ordinary, or unremarkable—making this set one of the simpler groups for regular players.
Blue Group — Striped Things
Answers: Barcode, IBM logo, Rugby shirt, Zebra
This visually themed category points to items recognized by their iconic striped patterns, from branding to clothing to wildlife.
Purple Group — Monopoly Board Squares
Answers: Avenue, Parking, Railroad, Tax
Players found this the toughest group today. All four words appear as spaces on the classic Monopoly game board.
Trending Puzzle Patterns
Recent Connections puzzles have leaned toward themes involving branding, everyday language, and recognizable symbols. The November 16 puzzle follows this trend, combining straightforward synonym groups (yellow and green) with visually themed and nostalgic sets (blue and purple).
Puzzle #889 delivers a balanced challenge suitable for both casual and seasoned solvers, blending clear wordplay with clever thematic twists.
