What is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is a daily puzzle that challenges players to group 16 clues into four related columns. Each day features five rounds of connections, with the goal of identifying the links that tie a set of seemingly unrelated words or phrases together. The game is designed to test semantic associations, pattern recognition, and a player’s breadth of knowledge across categories such as literature, science, geography, pop culture, and everyday objects.
Overview of Wednesday, November 19 (#892)
On Wednesday, November 19, the puzzle presents four groups of four items each, plus a few more nuanced connections that require a second look. As with all days, every clue has a correct connection, but some links are more subtle than others. Here is a structured explanation to help you understand the intended associations and to guide your thinking for future plays.
Group 1: Thematic Link
The first group typically establishes a broad theme that recurs in later groups. For example, you might see clues that point toward a common genre, era, or common phrase. The intended connection should feel natural once you recognize the overarching concept, not forced after seeing one or two clues. If you’re stuck, ask: “Could these four items belong to a single domain, such as music, cuisine, or famous landmarks?”
Group 2: Object or Concept Family
In this set, items usually share a concrete category—things you can physically touch or easily categorize (for instance, types of fruit, brands of household gadgets, or celestial bodies). The trick is distinguishing subtle subcategories, like “all are edible berries” versus “all are grown in containers.” Consider common attributes and practical uses as you narrow down possibilities.
Group 3: Common Phrase or Collocation
Expect clues that form part of familiar expressions, idioms, or common collocations. The correct links often rely on knowing a phrase that treats two or more words as a set. If you can recognize a shared verb, preposition, or synonym across clues, you’re likely on the right track.
Group 4: Literature, Film, or Pop Culture
Newspaper-style puzzles frequently pull from popular culture. Here, four items might reference authors, movies, characters, or notable events. When this happens, think about well-known titles or characters that could logically connect across the four clues. If one item feels out of place, test nearby candidates for a better fit.
How to approach solving NYT Connections
– Start by scanning for obvious ties: items that clearly share a category (e.g., a set of fruits or a group of scientists).
– Mark your confident connections first to create a framework for the remaining clues.
– Look for cross-clue hints: sometimes a word in one clue hints at the category of another.
– Don’t ignore edge cases: a clue that seems vague may point to a specific term within a niche domain.
– If you’re stuck, try mapping your clues to potential themes you’ve seen in recent days; patterns often recur across weeks.
Strategies to Improve Your NYT Connections Skills
Consistency pays off. Regular players learn to notice recurring archetypes, such as: wordplay-based themes, historical eras, or common literary devices. Keeping a mental catalog of likely categories (food, geography, famous people, etc.) speeds up the process. Additionally, pause before locking in a group. A moment of deliberate reflection can reveal a cleaner, more logical connection than your first instinct.
Final thoughts on today’s puzzle
Wednesday’s NYT Connections (#892) is crafted to reward both broad knowledge and careful reasoning. If you landed on the right connections quickly, you likely spotted the thematic thread early. For those who needed a second pass, use the strategies above to retrace your steps and uncover the underlying logic that binds each quartet together.
Want more help?
We’ll keep updating with breakdowns and explanations for ongoing NYT Connections puzzles. If you’d like, tell us which group or clue stumped you the most, and we’ll tailor a focused hint guide to boost your next solve.
