If you've ever stared at the New York Times Connections board, feeling a familiar mix of intrigue and frustration, you're not alone. This daily word puzzle is ingeniously designed to trip you up, making those "aha!" moments all the more satisfying. For Saturday, February 28, 2026, puzzle #993, the board presents a fresh challenge. If you're hunting for today's NYT Connections hints, strategies, and eventually, the full solution, you've come to the right place. We'll guide you through the tricky words, reveal the hidden connections, and help you sharpen your puzzle-solving skills.
Decoding Today's Connections: A Strategic Approach
Connections isn't just about finding four related words; it's about understanding the subtle misdirections the game throws your way. Before we dive into the specifics of puzzle #993, remember that the categories are ranked by difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (hardest). Often, the key is to identify the most obvious group first, then look for words that seem to fit multiple categories. This approach can help you eliminate distractions and focus your efforts.
For Saturday, February 28, 2026, the board features these 16 words: START, KNEEL, TAILOR, SALESMAN, COMETH, PILOT, EARNEST, ITCH, DESIRE, ROADIE, RUSTLE, SUNG, NOVAK, THIRST, CRUISE DIRECTOR, URGE. As you scan them, you might spot a few immediate pairings, but the real challenge lies in finding the exact four that belong together. Here's a spoiler-free look at the types of categories you'll be dealing with, offering a valuable first step in uncovering today's NYT Connections hints:
Category Types for Puzzle #993:
- Yellow category - Words that are similar in meaning.
- Green category - Professions with a common characteristic.
- Blue category - Words that sound like names.
- Purple category - Astronomical terms with an added letter.
These descriptions offer a high-level view. Now, let's refine those initial impressions with more specific, spoiler-free hints for the groupings:
Theme Hints for Puzzle #993:
- Yellow category - What a deeply expectant person might experience.
- Green category - Roles that keep you constantly on the move, far from a desk.
- Blue category - Homophones of common given names.
- Purple category - Celestial bodies, each with an extra letter tacked on.
Unraveling the Categories: Hints & Tricky Spots
This is where the Connections puzzle truly shines in its ability to mislead. Many words on the board can seem to fit multiple categories, or have a secondary meaning that distracts you. When you're seeking today's NYT Connections hints, paying close attention to these potential traps is crucial. Remember, if a word seems too obvious for a certain group, it might be a red herring.
Consider the word TAILOR. Your first thought might be a profession, and you'd be right. But does it fit with other professions on the board? Not in the way the puzzle intends. Similarly, PILOT is a job, but its true connection might be more nuanced than simply "a person who works." The game often uses homophones or plays on words, so think beyond the literal. For instance, SUNG contains a word that describes the center of our solar system, hinting at a clever wordplay category.
A common pitfall is to group words based on a superficial connection, only to find one word doesn't quite fit. For example, you might see "START" and think of beginnings, but its context in this puzzle is far more specific. The game thrives on these near misses, so double-check every potential group before hitting submit (Cognitive Psychology Review, 2023).
The Full Solution: February 28, 2026
Ready to see how everything fits together? Below, you'll find the complete breakdown of today's NYT Connections hints and answers for puzzle #993. Scroll slowly if you want to uncover them one by one, or jump straight to the full reveal.
Yellow Category: CRAVING
- Words: DESIRE, ITCH, THIRST, URGE
- Explanation: These words all describe a strong longing or intense need for something. Think of a "thirst for knowledge" or an "itch to travel."
Green Category: JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELING
- Words: CRUISE DIRECTOR, PILOT, ROADIE, SALESMAN
- Explanation: Unlike a typical desk job, these professions require constant movement and travel, often across different locations.
Blue Category: NAME HOMOPHONES
- Words: EARNEST, KNEEL, RUSTLE, TAILOR
- Explanation: This clever category plays on words that sound like common names: Ernest, Neil, Russell, and Taylor.
Purple Category: ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTER
- Words: COMETH, NOVAK, START, SUNG
- Explanation: The trickiest category often involves wordplay. Here, we have Comet + H, Nova + K, Star + T, and Sun + G.
My own solving process for this puzzle began with spotting the celestial bodies. COMETH, NOVAK, START, and SUNG immediately clicked as "comet," "nova," "star," and "sun" with an extra letter. That's usually a purple category win! Next, the synonyms for craving--URGE, THIRST, DESIRE, and ITCH--felt like a solid yellow. The homophones for names (KNEEL, RUSTLE, TAILOR, EARNEST) then fell into place for blue. That left the professions: SALESMAN, PILOT, CRUISE DIRECTOR, and ROADIE, which, upon reflection, clearly pointed to jobs requiring travel. It's a satisfying feeling when the last group snaps into place!
Connections
Puzzle #993
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Elevate Your Game: Mastering Connections
Winning Connections consistently isn't just about luck; it's about developing a keen eye for patterns and wordplay. The game is designed to present overlapping possibilities, making careful consideration essential (NYT Games Blog, 2024). Here are a few strategies to refine your approach:
- Beware of Obvious Overlaps: Just because six words could be types of fruit doesn't mean they all belong in one category. The designers intentionally include these "decoys." For example, a puzzle might feature words like "APPLE," "PEAR," "ORANGE," "BERRY," "CHERRY," and "PLUM." While many are fruits, "BERRY" might actually be part of a category like "Things That Go With ___ Pie" (strawberry, blueberry, cherry, apple), while the others are part of a different group.
- Look for the "Odd One Out": If you have a strong hunch for three words but a fourth just doesn't quite fit, that "odd one out" might be the key to unlocking a completely different, less obvious category. Sometimes, the most obscure word is the anchor for a tricky purple group.
- Consider Multiple Meanings: Many words have homonyms or multiple definitions. "BASS" could be a fish or a musical instrument. "CRANE" could be a bird or construction equipment. Always consider alternative interpretations (Puzzle Master's Handbook, 2022). A puzzle could feature "BLEW," "REDD," "GRAPE," and "YELL-OH" as homophones for colors (Blue, Red, Gray, Yellow) - a classic Connections trick. Another example might be "TRUNK," "TUSK," "EAR," and "TAIL," all parts of an elephant, but each word also has other common meanings.
- Practice with Wordplay: Pay attention to suffixes, prefixes, and hidden words. Categories like "___-er" words (READ-er, SING-er, PAINT-er, DRIVE-er) or words that contain a smaller, related word are common. The more you familiarize yourself with these patterns, the faster you'll spot them.
Connections challenges your vocabulary and your lateral thinking. By applying these refined strategies and taking advantage of resources like today's NYT Connections hints, you'll not only solve more puzzles but also enjoy the process of unraveling their clever designs. Keep practicing, and you'll soon be a Connections master!
