Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers for Nov, 17. #890

Stuck on today’s NYT Connections for November 17, game #890? You’re in the right spot. Below you’ll find gentle hints first, followed by the full groups and answers once you’re ready for spoilers.

If you’re looking for more daily puzzle help, many players like to check out hints and solutions not just for Connections, but also for the NYT Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands to keep the brain warm all day long.

About Today’s Connections Hints

Today’s puzzle has a fun mix of straightforward groups and one especially quirky purple category that asks you to notice a hidden word at the start of each phrase. It’s the kind of set that feels a bit “out there” at first, but really satisfying once you see the pattern.

If you’re having trouble sorting the words into four clean groups, don’t worry—that’s exactly what this guide is here to help with.

Four clues to nudge you in the right direction—from the easier yellow set to the often trickier purple.

A quick note about the Connections Bot

The New York Times now offers a Connections Bot, similar to the one they have for Wordle. After you finish playing, you can:

Get a numeric score
See how efficient your guesses were
Track your win rate, total puzzles solved and streaks
See how often you manage a perfect game

If you’re signed in to the Times Games section, it’s a nice way to nerd out over your progress and see how consistent your solving skills are.

Now, let’s dive into today’s NYT Connections hints and answers and start connecting the clues!
Read more Wordle hints and visit our website for daily updates.

Hints for Today’s Connections Groups

Here are light clues for each color group in today’s puzzle, in order from the typically easiest (yellow) to the trickiest (purple).

Yellow group hint: A confident way to say “yes.”
Green group hint: Things you’re not supposed to do or touch.
Blue group hint: All about basketball shots.
Purple group hint: Phrases that start with words meaning “Get lost!” or “Scram!”

Scroll slowly if you want to try solving with just hints. Everything below includes direct spoilers.

Answers for Today’s Connections Groups

Here are today’s official categories:

Yellow group: “You bet”
Green group: Forbidden
Blue group: Basketball shots
Purple group: Starting with synonyms for “scram!”

Now let’s break down which words belong where and why.

Yellow Group: “You Bet”

Category: “You bet”
These words and phrases are all spirited ways of saying “yes” or “definitely.”

ABSOLUTELY
OF COURSE
OKEY-DOKE
SURE THING

Each one works as an enthusiastic confirmation—exactly the kind of expression you might use when you agree with someone without hesitation.

Green Group: Forbidden

Category: Forbidden
This set centers on things that are not allowed or are strongly discouraged.

OFF-LIMITS
PROSCRIBED
TABOO
VERBOTEN

All four relate to rules, bans or social boundaries. Whether it’s an official restriction or an unspoken cultural rule, these words signal “don’t go there.”

Blue Group: Basketball Shots

Category: Basketball shots
Every word in this group is a type of move you can see on the court during a basketball game.

ALLEY-OOP
FADEAWAY
FINGER ROLL
SLAM DUNK

From graceful layups to high-flying finishes, this group is all about how players get the ball into the hoop in style.

Purple Group: Starting With Synonyms for “Scram!”

Category: Starting with synonyms for “scram!”
This is the clever, slightly wild purple set. Each phrase begins with a word that can mean “go away,” “get out of here” or “scram,” but in the full phrase, the meaning changes completely.

GO-GETTER
LEAVENING
SCATTERGORIES
SHOO-IN

Here’s the trick:

GO, LEAVE, SCATTER, and SHOO can all function as “get out of here” verbs.
In these full expressions, they’re part of new meanings:
- A go-getter is an ambitious, driven person.
- Leavening is what makes dough rise.
- Scattergories is a party game.
- A shoo-in is someone almost guaranteed to win.

It’s a very Connections-style twist: the link is hidden in how the words start, not in what the full phrases mean.

Final Thoughts

oday’s Connections puzzle for November 17 (#890) is a nice mix of:

Everyday expressions (“You bet” group)
Strong no-go signals (Forbidden group)
Sports terminology (Basketball shots)
A playful wordplay set (synonyms for “scram!” at the start of each phrase)

If any of the groups tripped you up, that’s totally normal. Connections is designed to stretch how you see relationships between words—from meaning and tone, to structure and hidden parts.

Keep at it, and over time you’ll get faster at spotting these patterns. And when you’re done here, you can always check out today’s Wordle, Mini Crossword, Strands, or Connections: Sports Edition to keep the streak going.

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer for Nov, 16. #1612

Looking for today’s Wordle solution? You’re in the right place! Below, we’ve got hints, the full answer for today’s Wordle hints Answer and yesterday’s solution, along with recent answers to keep you on track. You’ll also find links to our daily coverage of the NYT Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands puzzles.

Get more help Crack Wordle in Seconds with Expert Hints

Today's Wordle hints

Wordle Hints No. 1: Repeated Letter

Today’s Wordle answer does not include any repeated letters.

Wordle Hint No. 2: Vowels

There is only one vowel in today’s word.

Wordle Hint 3: First Letter

The word starts with the letter C.

Wordle Hint 4: Last Letter

It ends with the letter P.

Wordle today: Meaning

Today’s answer is the name of a tool used in workshops—it’s brace-like and is used to hold things tightly together.

Today’s Wordle Answer Nov 13, 1608

If you’re done guessing and ready to see the solution:

👉 Today’s Wordle answer is: CLAMP

A clamp is a tool that grips and holds objects firmly in place, often used in woodworking, metalwork or other workshop tasks.

Explore All Wordle Answers and Hints. Visit our Web Home Page.

Yesterday’s Wordle Answer

For reference, here’s yesterday’s solution:

Yesterday’s answer (Nov. 16, game No. 1611): WIELD

Recent Wordle Answers

Keeping an eye on recent answers can help you avoid repeating old words and sharpen your strategy. Here’s a quick recap:

Nov. 12, No. 1607: DEUCE
Nov. 13, No. 1608: TINGE
Nov. 14, No. 1609: LURID
Nov. 15, No. 1610: CLUNG

Use these as a mini history list to plan better starting guesses and enjoy tomorrow’s puzzle with a bit more insight

NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, November 13 2025

The New York Times Mini Crossword is a delightful daily mental stretch, offering a bite-sized challenge that’s perfect for a coffee break or a quick commute. While usually a breeze, some days, the clues just hit differently, making you pause and think a little longer than expected. If you found yourself scratching your head over a few of the entries in today’s puzzle, you are certainly not alone.

For Thursday, November 13th, the grid presented a few clever wordplays and common crossword staples that might have tripped up even seasoned solvers. Whether you’re aiming to keep your streak alive or just want to see the completed grid, we’ve got the full breakdown of the clues and their solutions right here.

And if you’re a fan of the full suite of NYT games, don’t forget to check out our daily guides for Wordle, Connections, and Strands to keep your puzzle-solving momentum going strong.

Today's Mini Crossword Clues and Solutions

This section provides the complete list of clues and their corresponding answers for the November 13th Mini Crossword. We’ve separated them into the Across and Down sections for easy reference.

Mini Across Clues and Answers

The Across clues generally flowed well, but one or two required a second look to lock in the correct word.

1A: Partner of ready and willing

Mini crossword Answer: ABLE

5A: Sound from a delighted crowd

Mini crossword Answer: ROAR

6A: Title that shares its first two letters with "Mamdani"

Mini crossword Answer: MAYOR

8A: Second chance

Mini crossword Answer: REDO

9A: Played Pictionary, perhaps

Mini crossword Answer: DREW

Mini Down Clues and Answers

The Down clues offered a mix of body parts, game components, and common verbs. The intersecting letters from the Across answers should have provided enough help to fill these in.

1D: Sleeve filler

Mini crossword Answer: ARM

2D: Component of a chess set

Mini crossword Answer: BOARD

3D: Extra bit of clothing for warmth

Mini crossword Answer: LAYER

4D: Wear away

Mini crossword Answer: ERODE

7D: Orderly arrangement of ducks, in a saying

Mini crossword Answer: ROW

Final Thoughts on the November 13th Mini

Today’s puzzle was a solid, medium-difficulty offering. The clue for 6-Across, “Title that shares its first two letters with ‘Mamdani’,” was a fun piece of trivia that likely served as the puzzle’s central trick. Once you realized the shared letters were “MA,” the answer MAYOR became clear. Similarly, the phrase “Orderly arrangement of ducks, in a saying” for 7-Down is a classic crossword clue that relies on knowing the common idiom “get your ducks in a ROW.”

If you struggled, remember that the Mini Crossword is designed to be a quick, enjoyable challenge. Every puzzle is a chance to learn a new piece of trivia or a common crossword pattern. Keep solving, and your speed and accuracy will naturally improve!

Happy solving, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow for the next set of answers!