Spoiler alert: The answers for NYT Connections puzzle #898, published Tuesday, November 25, 2025, are below. The groups are SMALL-TIME, THINGS THAT ARE PINK, THINGS YOU CAN SCRATCH, and STARTING WITH OPTIMISTIC WORDS.
All four Connections answers for November 25
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | SMALL-TIME | MICKEY MOUSE, RINKY-DINK, TRIVIAL, TWO-BIT |
| Green | THINGS THAT ARE PINK | BARBIE DREAMHOUSE, CALAMINE LOTION, CHERRY BLOSSOM, FLAMINGO |
| Blue | THINGS YOU CAN SCRATCH | BUG BITE, LOTTERY TICKET, VINYL RECORD, YOUR HEAD |
| Purple | STARTING WITH OPTIMISTIC WORDS | GLAD-HAND, HAPPY MEAL, MERRY-GO-ROUND, SUNNY-SIDE UP |
Why the words belong together
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four that share a characteristic. This puzzle uses four different kinds of links: slang meaning, color association, multiple meanings of an action, and a pattern in the first word of each phrase.
Yellow: SMALL-TIME
RINKY-DINK, TRIVIAL, and TWO-BIT all describe something minor, insignificant, cheap, or second-rate. MICKEY MOUSE fits through its slang use for something trivial or low quality; it is not a reference to the cartoon character.
Green: THINGS THAT ARE PINK
BARBIE DREAMHOUSE, CALAMINE LOTION, CHERRY BLOSSOM, and FLAMINGO are linked by their familiar association with the color pink. Calamine lotion is the less obvious choice, but its characteristic pale-pink appearance points to the category.
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Blue: THINGS YOU CAN SCRATCH
BUG BITE can itch and be scratched; a LOTTERY TICKET can be scratched off; a VINYL RECORD can be scratched as a DJ technique; and you can scratch YOUR HEAD. The category works because “scratch” shifts meaning across the four tiles.
Purple: STARTING WITH OPTIMISTIC WORDS
The opening words are GLAD in GLAD-HAND, HAPPY in HAPPY MEAL, MERRY in MERRY-GO-ROUND, and SUNNY in SUNNY-SIDE UP. The connection is the optimistic first word, not that the full phrases all describe the same kind of thing.
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Two clues that can mislead
- MICKEY MOUSE: The name can suggest a character-based group, but its dismissive slang meaning is what links it with SMALL-TIME, RINKY-DINK, TRIVIAL, and TWO-BIT.
- CALAMINE LOTION: It may be harder to spot as a pink item than a flamingo or cherry blossom; its pale-pink association completes the color group.
A possible way to approach the puzzle
All Things How’s guide suggests spotting SMALL-TIME and the optimistic opening words first, then identifying the pink items, with the scratch group left by elimination. That is one suggested solve order, not a guaranteed method: if an apparent group feels uncertain, check whether each word fits the same kind of relationship before submitting it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which November 25 puzzle is this?
This answer set is for #898, published Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The November 25, 2024 puzzle was #533, so the date alone can point to a different answer set in another year.
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