NYT Connections puzzle #890 is the game for Monday, November 17, 2025. You are sorting 16 words into four groups of four. Use the spoiler-safe clues below first, then open the answer section when you are ready.
Spoiler-free hints for Connections #890
Each clue points toward one category without naming its four entries:
- Yellow: “You got it!” or “Hell, yeah!”
- Green: “Don’t even think about it.” or “No entry.”
- Blue: Hoops and NBA skills.
- Purple: “Get out of here!”—a synonym of “vamoose.”
Connections allows up to four incorrect guesses; a fourth wrong guess ends the game.
Answers for NYT Connections #890
Spoilers follow. The complete board resolves into these four groups:
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| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| YOU BET | ABSOLUTELY; OF COURSE; OKEY-DOKE; SURE THING | All are affirmative replies or ways to say “yes.” |
| FORBIDDEN | OFF-LIMITS; PROSCRIBED; TABOO; VERBOTEN | Each means prohibited or not allowed. |
| BASKETBALL SHOTS | ALLEY-OOP; FADEAWAY; FINGER ROLL; SLAM DUNK | These are basketball shots or scoring moves. |
| STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “SCRAM!” | GO-GETTER; LEAVENING; SCATTERGORIES; SHOO-IN | The entries begin with GO, LEAVE, SCATTER and SHOO—words that can mean “scram” or “depart.” |
How the trickiest group works
The purple word-start connection
The last set is not a straightforward definition category. Remove everything after the opening word in each entry and you get GO, LEAVE, SCATTER and SHOO. Each can be used to tell someone to leave, which is why this is the puzzle’s wordplay group.
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Where to play
Connections is available on the New York Times Games site in a desktop or mobile browser. The daily puzzle can be played free, while access to the archive of earlier games is tied to an NYT All Access or Games subscription.
Why a first pass can mislead
Words such as SLAM DUNK and SHOO-IN look like familiar standalone phrases, so grouping by general meaning can hide the basketball and prefix patterns. Check whether a suspected category has exactly four entries and whether the remaining words still support a clean group before submitting.
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