Purple group — STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
Why is “PUFNSTUF” in the Purple group?
a magical dragon from a 1970s children's television show, sounding like 'puff of stuff'
Connections Hints for November 9, 2025 #881
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Yellow Category — November 9, 2025
Green Category — November 9, 2025
Blue Category — November 9, 2025
Purple Category — November 9, 2025
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Purple group — STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
Why is “CRONUT” in the Purple group?
a pastry that is a cross between a croissant and a doughnut, sounding like 'crow nut'
Word definitions
Tricky words in today's Connections (November 9, 2025)
Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.
- CRANIUM
- Definition: the skull, especially the part that encloses the brain
- Why it's tricky: its similarity in sound to 'crane', a type of bird
- NOODLE
- Definition: to think or ponder
- Why it's tricky: its more common meaning as a type of food
- MUSE
- Definition: to think deeply, often in a creative or artistic way
- Why it's tricky: its multiple meanings, including a source of inspiration or a mythological goddess
- REFLECT
- Definition: to think carefully or ponder
- Why it's tricky: its multiple meanings, including to bounce back or to show an image
Connections #881 explained
Why these words connect (November 9, 2025)
Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.
Yellow group: PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS
These are all items commonly found in a bathroom or used for personal hygiene, including tools for cleaning and beautifying oneself.
Green group: PACKED
These are all words that describe something as densely filled or tightly packed, often used to convey a sense of closeness or compactness.
Blue group: PONDER
These are all words that relate to the act of thinking, reflecting, or considering something, often in a deliberate or intentional manner.
Purple group: STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
These are all words that start with sounds similar to types of birds, such as 'crane' or 'crow', often used in a playful or clever manner.
Red herrings and trap words explained
These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.
“CRANIUM”
Seems like it belongs to: PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS
Actually belongs to: STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
its similarity in sound to 'crane', a type of bird, and its relation to the head, which is often associated with personal grooming
“MIRROR”
Seems like it belongs to: PACKED
Actually belongs to: PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS
its possible interpretation as 'reflective' or 'dense', which could fit with the 'packed' category
Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained
These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.
Why “CRANIUM” didn't go with PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS
Seems like: PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS → Actually: STARTING WITH BIRD HOMOPHONES
its similarity in sound to 'crane', a type of bird, and its relation to the head, which is often associated with personal grooming
Why “MIRROR” didn't go with PACKED
Seems like: PACKED → Actually: PERSONAL GROOMING ITEMS
its possible interpretation as 'reflective' or 'dense', which could fit with the 'packed' category