NYT Connections Puzzle Stumps Players with Phonetic Twist

The daily NYT Connections puzzle for November 28, 2025, has challenged solvers with a tricky word grid. This edition, puzzle #901, features 16 words that need sorting into four secret categories. Players must find the common links to achieve a perfect score.

The New York Times game tests vocabulary and lateral thinking. Today’s puzzle includes words like “stress” and “fret,” which can have multiple meanings. This ambiguity is a classic tactic to increase the difficulty for even seasoned players.

Today’s Connections Categories Revealed

The four color-coded categories range from easiest to hardest. The yellow group was the most straightforward, centered on the concept of being correct or suitable. According to The New York Times, the words FAIR, JUST, PROPER, and RIGHT formed the “FITTING” category.

The green category required thinking about competition. Words like BEAT, BEST, TAKE, and WORST all relate to “ACHIEVE VICTORY OVER” an opponent. This group proved slightly more challenging for some solvers.

Specialist Knowledge Adds to the Challenge

The blue and purple categories demanded more specific knowledge. The blue group, “PARTS OF AN ELECTRIC GUITAR,” used terms FRET, PEG, PICKUP, and STRING. This tripped up players unfamiliar with musical instruments.

The most difficult purple category was linguistic. It grouped INTONATIONS, LOUDNESS, RHYTHM, and STRESS as “PHONETIC ELEMENTS OF SPEECH.” This clever connection was the day’s final hurdle for many. The puzzle’s design successfully separated casual players from experts.

Success in this word game hinges on spotting these subtle thematic links. The NYT Connections puzzle continues to be a engaging daily brain teaser for language lovers.

Info at your fingertips

What were the hints for today’s NYT Connections?

Today’s category hints were Yellow: Correct, Green: Defeating others, Blue: Guitar parts, and Purple: Speech sounds. These clues help narrow down the possible word groupings.

What is the hardest category in Connections?

The purple category is consistently the most difficult. It often involves wordplay, specialized knowledge, or abstract concepts that are hard to spot initially.

How many attempts do you get in Connections?

Players get only four mistakes before the game ends. This limited number of attempts forces careful consideration of each word selection.

Can you play old Connections puzzles?

Yes, you can access previous puzzles through the New York Times Connections archive. This allows you to practice and play games you may have missed.