Today’s Connections (#880) leans approachable. Testers rated it 1.3 out of 5 on difficulty, and the nudge words point to clear thematic lanes. If you haven’t started yet, open the daily grid on the official page at nytimes.com/games/connections.
Today’s category themes at a glance
Each Connections puzzle groups 16 words into four themed sets of four. For Nov 7, the themes line up around textiles, green sauces, ring-shaped items, and the political “purple” idea.
| Color | Category theme | Nudge word | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Textile patterns | POLKA DOT | Common fabric or clothing prints (think classic pattern names). |
| Green | Green sauces/condiments | PESTO | Sauces that are literally green, not just herbs or vegetables. |
| Blue | Ring-shaped objects | WASHER | Things defined by a circular “donut” form, often hardware. |
| Purple | “Purple” in a political sense | SWING STATE | Terms tied to mixed red/blue politics or competitive states. |
How to approach #880
Start with the least ambiguous lane. “POLKA DOT” anchors a set of pattern names you’d see on clothing or textiles. Scan the board for other unmistakable patterns and lock those in first to reduce noise.
Next, separate food from form. “PESTO” points to green sauces specifically. If a word is a food but not a sauce, don’t let the color mislead you—this group is about condiments that are green by sight.
For blue, think shapes before categories. “WASHER” suggests a literal ring form, often in hardware. Gather items that are ring-shaped as a physical property rather than items that merely involve rings metaphorically.
Leave purple for last. “SWING STATE” hints at the US political use of purple (a mix of red and blue). Expect entries that evoke competitiveness or mixed partisan identity rather than the color alone.
Common traps in today’s grid
- Pattern vs. shape: A word might describe a geometric shape yet not be a named textile pattern. Favor specific, named prints for yellow.
- Green but not a sauce: Herbs and vegetables can read “green” but won’t fit unless they’re a recognized sauce or condiment.
- Food vs. form: Some foods are ring-shaped; don’t confuse edible circles with the hardware-leaning ring objects blue is aiming for.
- Color vs. concept: Purple can be a color, but today’s purple leans on the political concept—prioritize terms tied to elections and party balance.
Color order and difficulty
The set follows the standard progression from easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, then purple. With today’s 1.3/5 rating, expect quick wins once you land the first set. If you stall, shuffle the grid to break visual ruts and refocus on the anchor words above.
If you’re aiming for a clean board, solve in this order: lock the textile patterns, confirm the green sauces, isolate the ring-shaped objects, then tackle the purple, politics-leaning set. The four nudge words—POLKA DOT, PESTO, WASHER, SWING STATE—are your compass for each lane.
