If you’re anything like me, your morning routine isn’t complete without a quick dive into the New York Times Games section. There’s something undeniably satisfying about cracking a puzzle that feels both clever and challenging, and NYT Connections has become a staple for word nerds and casual solvers alike. Launched in 2023 as part of the NYT’s ever-growing suite of brain teasers, Connections takes the classic word-association game and amps it up with a grid of 16 words divided into four hidden categories. Each group shares a subtle theme, and your job is to link them before your nine guesses run out. Miss too many, and you’ll be left staring at a wall of mismatched tiles—frustrating, yet oh-so-rewarding when you finally click.
Today, November 24, 2025, marks puzzle #897, and it’s shaping up to be a delightfully tricky one. As we head into the holiday season, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, this edition feels like a cozy brain warm-up before the turkey carving begins. If you’re scouring for “NYT Connections answers” to salvage your streak or just curious about what the fuss is about, you’ve landed in the right spot. In this guide, I’ll walk you through gentle hints to nudge you toward victory, reveal the full solutions with breakdowns, and share strategies to elevate your game. No spoilers up front—scroll at your own risk. Let’s group some words and get that perfect score.
A Quick Peek at Today’s Grid: The Words That’ll Have You Thinking
Before we jump into hints, here’s the full lineup of 16 words for #897. I’ve shuffled them a bit to avoid immediate giveaways, but if you’re playing along, pause here and jot them down:
- Blender
- Microwave
- Rice cooker
- Toaster
- Air conditioner
- Cup holder
- Radio
- Shifter
- Bin
- Carry-on
- Metal detector
- X-ray
- Infrared
- Marigold
- Stingray
- Ultraviolet
At first glance, it’s a eclectic mix—kitchen gadgets mingle with travel woes, car parts, and some scientific terms that scream “electromagnetic spectrum.” That’s the beauty (and occasional curse) of Connections: themes overlap just enough to throw you off, but once you spot the patterns, it’s like a lightbulb flickering on. If you’re new to the game, remember the color-coded difficulty: yellow for the most straightforward group, green a notch trickier, blue for that “aha” moment, and purple for the mind-bender that often relies on puns or wordplay.
Layered Hints: From Subtle Nudges to Category Teasers
Spoiler-free zone ahead. These hints are designed to help without handing you the win on a platter. Start with the yellow if you’re easing in, or skip to purple if you’re feeling bold. I’ve calibrated them progressively: vague at first, then more pointed.
Yellow Group Hint (Easiest: Everyday Essentials)
Think about those compact wonders that make whipping up a meal a breeze without taking over your counter space. We’re talking gadgets that hum, whir, and heat things up in seconds—perfect for busy weeknights or lazy brunches. If your kitchen feels incomplete without them, you’re on the right track. (Pro tip: Avoid getting sidetracked by larger appliances; these are the pint-sized powerhouses.)
Green Group Hint (Vehicle Vibes)
Picture sliding into the driver’s seat and scanning the dashboard area right in front of you. What controls and comforts keep your road trip smooth? From climate tweaks to entertainment options and practical spots for your coffee, this cluster is all about that central hub of convenience. It’s less about the engine and more about the everyday ergonomics that make driving less of a chore.
Blue Group Hint (Travel Tango)
Ah, the ritual before boarding: shoes off, pockets empty, and a conveyor belt of chaos. This set evokes the fluorescent-lit gauntlet where patience is tested and liquids are confiscated. Focus on the tools, containers, and scans that turn a simple departure into a full-body pat-down adventure. If you’ve ever grumbled about forgetting your toiletries, this one’s for you.
Purple Group Hint (Wordplay Wonderland)
Here’s where Connections shines—or trips you up—with its linguistic gymnastics. Look beyond the surface meanings to how these words wrap up. They all trail off into something vibrant and visual, like a secret code hidden in plain sight. Not animals, not tech exactly, but a sneaky suffix that ties them to the spectrum of sight. (If you’re stuck, say them out loud; the ending might just “color” your thinking.)
These hints should give you a solid 70% solve rate without feeling cheated. If you’re still circling, take a five-minute break—Connections rewards the fresh perspective. I once spent 20 minutes on a purple group only to realize it was a floral pun; stepping away for coffee unlocked it instantly.
The Full Reveal: NYT Connections Answers for #897, Explained
Alright, deep breath—here come the solutions. I’ll break down each category with the words, why they fit, and a bit of trivia to make it stick. These are drawn straight from the puzzle’s core logic, so no guesswork here. Congrats if you nailed them solo; if not, join the club and learn for next time.
Yellow: Small Kitchen Appliances (Blender, Microwave, Rice Cooker, Toaster)
This one’s a gimme for home cooks. The blender purees smoothies and soups with effortless fury; the microwave zaps leftovers into steaming perfection; the rice cooker delivers fluffy grains without babysitting; and the toaster crisps bread to golden glory. What unites them? They’re all countertop champs—compact, electric, and indispensable for quick fixes. Fun fact: The microwave was invented accidentally in 1945 when engineer Percy Spencer noticed a chocolate bar melting near a magnetron tube. If your yellow took more than two guesses, blame the sneaky overlaps with car features later on.
Green: Features of a Car’s Center Console (Air Conditioner, Cup Holder, Radio, Shifter)
Drive into this group, and it’s all about that middle-ground magic. The air conditioner vents cool blasts from the dash; the cup holder cradles your travel mug securely; the radio tunes into podcasts or jams; and the shifter (manual or automatic) lets you glide through gears. These aren’t peripherals—they’re the console’s MVPs, clustered right where your hand naturally rests. Automotive history nod: Cup holders weren’t standard until the 1990s; before that, drivers improvised with ashtrays. This category tripped up a few folks today because “air conditioner” could masquerade as a kitchen cooler, but context is king.
Blue: Seen While Going Through Airport Security (Bin, Carry-On, Metal Detector, X-Ray)
TSA theater at its finest. The bin is that gray plastic tray for your keys and belt; the carry-on is your rolly bag stuffed to bursting; the metal detector beeps at forgotten quarters; and the X-ray machine scans for shadowy threats (or that rogue water bottle). It’s a snapshot of pre-flight paranoia, evoking sighs and sock-footed shuffles. Travel stat: The TSA screens over 2 million passengers daily, making this ritual a modern rite of passage. If blue stumped you, it might be the techy vibe clashing with the purple’s science slant—easy mix-up.
Purple: Ending in Colors (Infrared, Marigold, Stingray, Ultraviolet)
The crown jewel of wordplay: Each wraps with a hue. Infrared ends in “red,” a heat-sensing wave; marigold in “gold,” that sunny bloom; stingray in “gray,” the ocean glider; ultraviolet in “violet,” the UV zapper. It’s a spectrum-spanning sneaky one, blending science (infrared/ultraviolet as light waves) with nature (marigold/stingray). Purple often demands this lateral thinking—think etymology over synonyms. Historical tidbit: “Infrared” was coined in 1880 by William Herschel, who discovered it while hunting for planetary heat. Master this, and you’ll feel like a linguistic detective.
There you have it—#897 conquered. A “chin scratcher,” as one solver called it, thanks to radiation red herrings like microwave and X-ray tempting wrong groups.
Leveling Up: Strategies, Pitfalls, and Why You’ll Keep Coming Back
Now that we’ve unpacked today’s puzzle, let’s talk gamecraft. Connections isn’t just luck; it’s pattern recognition honed over time. My top tip? Start broad: Scan for obvious clusters like the kitchen quartet here—they’re usually yellow for a reason. Then, eliminate: Cross out words as you lock groups, avoiding the “one left over” trap. For blues and purples, embrace the weird—puns, homophones, or cultural refs often lurk. Common pitfall? Overthinking overlaps; today’s microwave flirted with both kitchen and radiation themes, costing me a guess.
Build your streak with habits: Play daily at 3 a.m. ET when it drops, or archive old puzzles for practice. The NYT app’s shuffle feature randomizes the grid, training adaptability. And don’t sleep on community—Reddit’s r/NYTConnections buzzes with memes and “loss porn” screenshots. Since launch, players have solved over a billion groups, proving its sticky genius.
What makes Connections addictive? It’s bite-sized (five minutes max) yet replayable, blending social sharing with solo smugness. Unlike Wordle’s binary win/lose, the four-group progression builds tension, and that purple reveal? Pure dopamine. In a world of endless scrolls, it’s a mindful escape—much like piecing together a family recipe amid holiday chaos.
Historically, word games trace to ancient Egypt’s hieroglyph riddles, but Connections modernizes with inclusivity: No obscure vocab, just clever ties. Creators Jonathan Drake and Joel Fagliano draw from pop culture to esoterica, keeping it fresh. #897’s travel-kitchen mashup feels timely, nodding to post-pandemic wanderlust.
Wrapping It Up: Your Turn to Connect
November 24, 2025, delivers another gem in NYT Connections #897—one that tests your domestic savvy, road smarts, airport grit, and poetic ear. Whether you aced it or needed these “NYT Connections answers” to peek, every puzzle sharpens the mind. Grab your coffee, fire up the app, and chase that four-green-squares glory. What’s your go-to solving ritual? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear. Until tomorrow’s #898, keep connecting the dots. Happy puzzling!