The NYT Connections challenge for 30 November 2025 delivers a compelling mix of tolerance-based verbs, entertainment failures, classic fictional characters, and phonetically clever wordplay. As always, the puzzle features 16 words that must be sorted into four themed groups. Below you'll find gentle hints for each category followed by the full set of answers.

NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 30 November 2025

Today's grid showcases layered thinking with themes ranging from straightforward to wonderfully abstract. Nothing overtly deceptive—just clever vocabulary that becomes challenging when words can plausibly fit multiple categories. Solvers likely noticed terms with multiple interpretations, making strategic comparison essential to crack the correct groupings.

NYT Connections Hints: 30 November 2025

Category 1:
  • Think about putting up with something unpleasant.
  • Words often used when describing tolerance or acceptance.
  • Associated with endurance and patience.
  • All describe the same action of accepting difficulty.
Category 2:
  • Something that represents failure or disappointment.
  • Often used to describe entertainment that doesn't work.
  • Linked to disappointing outcomes or unsuccessful ventures.
  • Common in discussions of box office disasters or failed projects.
Category 3:
  • These are characters from famous adventure stories.
  • Includes legendary sailors and swashbucklers from literature and pop culture.
  • Connected to stories of the sea and piracy.
  • All can be found in classic adventure narratives.
Category 4:
  • Terms with a phonetic twist at the end.
  • Connected to color homophones in their final syllables.
  • Involve names and words that sound like basic hues.
  • Each word's ending represents a specific auditory color reference.

NYT Connections Answers: 30 November 2025

Here are the answers, grouped by category:

Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Category 4

Conclusion & Quick Strategy Tip

This was a satisfying puzzle that balanced accessibility with intellectual challenge. The Green category clicked relatively quickly once the failure theme emerged, and Yellow followed suit with a bit more mental flexibility required. Blue delighted pop culture enthusiasts with instantly recognizable names. The Purple category remained the true puzzle—seemingly random words until their phonetic patterns aligned with color homophones, transforming confusion into triumph.