Today’s NYT Connections Hint & Answer for November 20, 2025

Welcome, puzzle lovers! If you’ve just opened up today’s NYT Connections and felt a momentary sense of dread looking at words like "DECAY" and "PULP," don't worry—you aren't alone. Today’s grid, edited by the clever Wyna Liu, is a fantastic mix of literal definitions and some very sneaky phonetic wordplay.

Whether you're looking for a small nudge to keep your streak alive or you're ready to see the full answer for 2025-11-20, I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the breakdown.

Hints for Today's Groups

If you want to solve the puzzle on your own but just need a little direction, here are some NYT Connections hints for the four categories:

• Yellow (Easiest): Think about what you do when you want two things to stay together.
• Green: These words all describe a very light, almost imperceptible touch.
• Blue: This group requires a bit of anatomical knowledge, specifically regarding your mouth.
• Purple (Hardest): Say these words out loud. Slowly. What do you hear?

The Yellow Category: ADHERE

The yellow group today focuses on synonyms for fastening or sticking things together. While "FIX" can sometimes mean to repair, in this context, it refers to making something stationary or attached.

• FIX
• PASTE
• PLASTER
• STICK

Why they fit: These are all verbs that describe the act of attaching something firmly to a surface.

The Green Category: GRAZE

This category was a bit more poetic. It wasn't about cattle eating grass, but rather the way an object or a person might lightly make contact with something else.

• BRUSH
• KISS
• SKIM
• STROKE

Why they fit: Each of these words describes a gentle, fleeting touch. When a billiard ball "kisses" another, or a stone "skims" the water, the contact is minimal.

The Blue Category: PARTS OF A TOOTH

If you’ve spent some time in a dentist’s chair recently, this one might have jumped out at you. At first glance, words like "CROWN" and "ROOT" might make you think of royalty or plants, but "ENAMEL" and "PULP" bring the theme home.

• CROWN
• ENAMEL
• PULP
• ROOT

Why they fit: These are the primary structural components of a human tooth. The Enamel is the hard outer layer, the Pulp is the center containing nerves, the Crown is the visible part, and the Root holds it in the jaw.

The Purple Category: WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS

This is the "aha!" moment of the day. Wyna Liu loves using phonetic tricks for the purple category, and today is a classic example. When you say these words, they sound exactly like you are reciting two letters of the alphabet in a row.

• ANY (N-E)
• ARTY (R-T)
• DECAY (D-K)
• ESSAY (S-A)

Why they fit:

• ANY sounds like the letters N and E.
• ARTY sounds like the letters R and T.
• DECAY sounds like the letters D and K.
• ESSAY sounds like the letters S and A.

Summary of the Answer for 2025-11-20

If you just want the quick list to check your work, here is the final solution:

• ADHERE: FIX, PASTE, PLASTER, STICK
• GRAZE: BRUSH, KISS, SKIM, STROKE
• PARTS OF A TOOTH: CROWN, ENAMEL, PULP, ROOT
• WORDS THAT SOUND LIKE TWO LETTERS: ANY, ARTY, DECAY, ESSAY

Today’s puzzle was a masterclass in misdirection. "DECAY" and "ENAMEL" seemed like they belonged together (tooth decay!), but "DECAY" was actually hiding in the phonetic category. "PLASTER" and "PASTE" also felt like they could relate to construction, but they settled nicely into the "Adhere" group.

I hope these hints helped you solve today's Connections! See you tomorrow for the next grid.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play NYT Connections?

The goal is to find four groups of four words that share a common thread. Select four words and tap "Submit." You have four lives, and each incorrect guess costs one life.

When does the NYT Connections reset?

New puzzles are released every day at midnight local time.

What do the colors mean in Connections?

The colors indicate the difficulty level of the category:

• Yellow: Straightforward/Literal.
• Green: Common synonyms or slightly more complex themes.
• Blue: Specific knowledge or multi-word phrases.
• Purple: Wordplay, puns, or abstract connections.

Is Connections harder than Wordle?

It depends on your strengths! While Wordle is about letter patterns, Connections relies on vocabulary, lateral thinking, and general knowledge, making it a different kind of challenge.