NYT Connections for February 25, 2026 (Puzzle #990) delivers a layered challenge that rewards both instinct and precision.
At first glance, the board feels approachable. One grouping stands out quickly if you think about caregiving roles. Another cluster leans into foundational school terminology. The third set requires name recognition rather than vocabulary logic. And the final group only clicks once you shift your focus from definitions to word structure.
As always, the goal is to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on shared themes. The difficulty progresses from yellow (easiest) to purple (hardest). If today’s grid slowed you down, you weren’t alone.
Play the official puzzle on the New York Times Connections page.
Hints for February 25, 2026
🟨 Yellow: Think of words connected to caring for someone or looking after them.
🟩 Green: These words relate to elementary-level concepts or foundational learning.
🟦 Blue: Each surname shares the same famous first name.
🟪 Purple: Look closely at how each word ends — there’s a hidden family-related term inside.
One-word anchor from each group
- 🟨 Yellow: NURSE
- 🟩 Green: PRIMARY
- 🟦 Blue: HARDEN
- 🟪 Purple: NAPKIN
Practice Mode
Answers
🟨 Yellow – Care for Someone
BABY, FOSTER, MOTHER, NURSE
🟩 Green – Elementary
BASIC, KEY, PRIMARY, PRINCIPAL
🟦 Blue – Jameses
BROWN, COOK, DEAN, HARDEN
🟪 Purple – Ending in Family Words
ALKALINE, DECLAN, DIATRIBE, NAPKIN
Missed yesterday’s puzzle? Check the full breakdown of NYT Connections Answers for February 24, 2026 (Puzzle #989) .
