NYT Connections Hint and Answer for November 26, 2025

Welcome back to another day of logic, wordplay, and the occasional "aha!" moment. Today’s NYT Connections puzzle (No. 945) is a masterclass in misdirection.

If you looked at the board and immediately saw a bunch of months, you aren't alone! Wyna Liu really leaned into the calendar for this one, but as always, things are rarely as they first appear. Let's break down the clues and the answer for 2025-11-26 to help you keep your streak alive.

Today's Difficulty and Initial Thoughts

At first glance, this puzzle looks like a calendar convention. We see JAN, MAR, APR, and MAY. However, if you try to group them together, you'll find the puzzle doesn't quite resolve.

Today’s grid requires you to look past the abbreviations and see these words for their alternative meanings—whether they are financial terms, modal verbs, or even something a bit more... reversed.

Hints for Today’s Groups

If you’re looking for a little nudge before we reveal the answers, here are some hints for each color-coded category:

• Yellow (Easiest): These are words we use when discussing what is possible or allowed.
• Green (Medium): Shortened versions of classic feminine names.
• Blue (Hard): Terms you’d likely find in a bank statement or a corporate office.
• Purple (Tricky): These words don't look like much until you flip them around.

Category 1: VERBS EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY (Yellow)

These are modal verbs commonly used in the English language to express potentiality, permission, or capability.

• Hint: If you "are able to" or "have permission to," you might use these.
• Words: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT

Category 2: WOMEN’S NICKNAMES (Green)

This category focuses on common three-letter nicknames. It's a bit of a trick because "MAY" could have fit here, but "JAN" and "SUE" are more distinctively nicknames in this specific set.

• Hint: Shortened forms of Deborah, Janet, Katherine, and Susan.
• Words: DEB, JAN, KAT, SUE

Category 3: FINANCIAL ABBREVIATIONS (Blue)

This is where the "Months" trap really starts to fall apart. While APR is a month, it is much better known in the financial world as a rate.

• Hint: You'll see these in a retirement plan, on a loan agreement, or in government finance oversight.
• Words: APR, CFO, IRA, SEC
• Definitions:
  • APR: Annual Percentage Rate.
  • CFO: Chief Financial Officer.
  • IRA: Individual Retirement Account.
  • SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission.

Category 4: BACKWARDS ANIMALS (Purple)

The classic "Purple" category. These words seem random until you read them from right to left. Once you see it, you can't un-see it!

• Hint: Read these words from back to front.
• Words: FLOW, GOD, MAR, TAB
• Why they fit: When reversed, they spell WOLF, DOG, RAM, and BAT.

The Solution: NYT Connections Answer for 2025-11-26

If you just want the final groupings for today's puzzle, here they are:

• VERBS EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY (Yellow): CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT
• WOMEN’S NICKNAMES (Green): DEB, JAN, KAT, SUE
• FINANCIAL ABBREVIATIONS (Blue): APR, CFO, IRA, SEC
• BACKWARDS ANIMALS (Purple): FLOW, GOD, MAR, TAB

Strategy Tips for Today

Today's NYT Connections hint is all about avoiding the "Calendar Trap."

1. Identify the Duplicates: When you see JAN, MAR, APR, and MAY, don't click them immediately. Look at the other words. Since there is no "FEB" or "JUN," there's a high chance these words belong to other groups.
2. Check for Modal Verbs: MAY and MIGHT are almost always paired together in logic puzzles.
3. Reverse It: If you have four words that don't seem to have any connection (like FLOW and TAB), try reading them backward. It’s a common Purple category tactic.

Good luck with your puzzle tomorrow!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I play NYT Connections?

The goal is to find groups of four items that share something in common. Select four items and tap 'Submit' to see if your guess is correct. You have four mistakes before the game ends.

When does NYT Connections reset?

The puzzle resets every day at midnight in your local time zone.

What do the colors mean in Connections?

The colors represent the difficulty level:

• Yellow: Straightforward/easiest.
• Green: Familiar words/medium.
• Blue: Unfamiliar words or specific knowledge/hard.
• Purple: Wordplay and abstract connections/tricky.