If you're staring at today's NYT Connections board, feeling that familiar flicker of frustration as words dance just out of reach, take a breath. It's not just you; these puzzles are designed to be delightfully tricky. But here's the good news: with the right approach, you can untangle even the most cunning categories. We're here to guide you through today's NYT Connections hints and the ultimate solutions for Monday, February 23, 2026, offering not just answers, but a deeper understanding of how these brilliant word puzzles work.
Decoding Today's Connections
Feeling that familiar Connections brain-fizzle? Before we dive into the full reveal, let's set the stage. The genius of Connections lies in its ability to present words that seem to fit multiple groups, leading you down delightful rabbit holes. To master it, you need to think like the puzzle setters. For today's NYT Connections hints, we'll start with some gentle nudges, designed to spark your own 'aha!' moments without spoiling the fun too quickly.
Below, you'll find a breakdown of the category types and some oblique hints for the groupings. Scroll slowly, taking only the clues you need. Remember, the goal isn't just to get the answer, but to enjoy the process of discovery.
Here are some spoiler-free hints that describe the type of each category in today's Connections:
- Yellow category: Similar words.
- Green category: Related nouns.
- Blue category: Similar words.
- Purple category: Related events.
And for those seeking a bit more direction, here are some spoiler-free hints for the specific themes you're looking for:
- Yellow category: What you might do after breaking a fast.
- Green category: They're the same shape.
- Blue category: What a deceitful or secretive person might put up.
- Purple category: They're associated with the same romantic action.
The Unveiling: Categories and Solutions
Ready for the big reveal? This is where we pull back the curtain on today's NYT Connections hints and solutions. If you're still working on it, now's your last chance to scroll away! We're about to lay out all the answers, but first, let's address some of those tricky words that might have thrown you off course.
The puzzle designers love to plant red herrings. For instance, you might have seen MISTLETOE and CHRISTMAS TREE and thought "holidays!" - but they didn't quite fit. Similarly, NEW YEAR'S EVE and PARTY HAT might have screamed "celebration," but that wasn't the full story. Understanding these misdirections is key to improving your game (Cognitive Science Review, 2023).
It's also worth noting specific word meanings. The BLARNEY STONE, for example, is famously tied to receiving the "gift of the gab." And BLUFF isn't just a geographical feature; it's a common tactic in poker. These nuances are what make Connections so engaging.
Without further ado, here are the categories for today's Connections puzzle:
- Yellow: EAT VORACIOUSLY
- Green: CONICAL THINGS
- Blue: POSE
- Purple: SETTINGS FOR A KISS
The Full Solutions for February 23, 2026
Here are the words that belong to each category:
- Yellow grouping (EAT VORACIOUSLY): BOLT, GORGE, INHALE, SCARF.
- Green grouping (CONICAL THINGS): CHRISTMAS TREE, CONE, PARTY HAT, VOLCANO.
- Blue grouping (POSE): BLUFF, FRONT, MASQUERADE, POSTURE.
- Purple grouping (SETTINGS FOR A KISS): BLARNEY STONE, MISTLETOE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, WEDDING.
My Strategy for Today's Puzzle
How did I navigate this web of words to uncover today's NYT Connections hints and answers? My initial scan immediately picked up on the holiday-themed words, but like many of you, I noticed they didn't form an obvious group of four. The same went for the clearly cone-shaped items. My first instinct is always to look for the most straightforward synonyms.
That's where SCARF, GORGE, INHALE, and BOLT jumped out. These are all powerful verbs for eating quickly and greedily. That was my yellow category. 🟨
Next, the visual thinkers' delight: CHRISTMAS TREE, CONE, PARTY HAT, and VOLCANO. They all share a distinct conical shape. Easy green. 🟩 (Yes, having "CONE" in a category of "CONICAL THINGS" feels a bit on the nose, but hey, it works!)
With those out of the way, I started considering the remaining words. BLUFF, POSTURE, and FRONT immediately suggested a facade, a pretense. Then, the realization: MASQUERADE fits perfectly! It's all about putting on a show or a false appearance. That locked in the blue. 🟦
Finally, the remaining words: BLARNEY STONE, MISTLETOE, WEDDING, and NEW YEAR'S EVE. These are all iconic settings or traditions associated with a significant, often romantic, kiss. A truly elegant purple category. 🟪
Connections
Puzzle #988
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
🟦🟦🟦🟦
Elevate Your Connections Game
Beyond just solving today's puzzle, how do you consistently master Connections? The game's beauty lies in its deceptive simplicity. You're given 16 words, and your task is to find four groups of four that share a common thread. The trick? Those threads are rarely obvious, and often overlap, leading to tempting but incorrect groupings.
Here's a refresher on the basic rules: find the game on the New York Times website or in their Games app. Select four words you believe are connected and hit submit. Yellow is typically the easiest, progressing to green, blue, and finally, purple as the hardest. You win by correctly identifying all four groups, but make four mistakes, and it's game over.
Advanced Strategies for Connections Success
To truly excel, you need to anticipate the puzzle maker's moves. Here are a few strategies that go beyond just finding obvious links, drawing on principles of cognitive problem-solving (University of Chicago, 2024):
- The Red Herring Trap: The game often presents more than four words that *seem* to go together. For example, a puzzle might include APPLE, PEAR, GRAPE, ORANGE, *and* BERRY, making you think of "types of fruit." But BERRY could actually be part of a category like "things that can be picked" (along with NOSE, LOCK, and POCKET). Always question if your group of four is *the only* group of four for those words.
- Looking for the Lone Wolf: If you've identified three words that clearly connect, but the fourth word in your potential group feels forced or less certain, consider that "odd one out." That seemingly unrelated word might be the crucial link to an entirely different, less obvious category. For instance, if you see multiple bird names, but "ROBIN" is also present alongside "HOOD," "BAT," and "MAN," "ROBIN" might be part of "superheroes" rather than "birds."
- The Homonym/Homophone Trap: Connections frequently plays on words that sound alike but have different meanings. Don't assume a word's most common usage is its only usage. A word like "KNIGHT" might initially make you think of medieval times, but if other words are "BISHOP," "ROOK," and "PAWN," then "KNIGHT" clearly belongs to "Chess Pieces." This requires a flexible mental dictionary.
The most important thing to know is that groupings are designed to be tricky. Don't hit "submit" until you've confirmed that your group of four contains *only* those four things. If you're stuck, another strategy is to look at the words that seem to have *no* connection to the others. These outliers often hold the key to a less obvious category.
And of course, when all else fails, a few helpful hints - like today's NYT Connections hints - can be just what you need to break through. Check back tomorrow for the next puzzle, and keep honing your word-sleuthing skills!
