A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #260
hints & answers for February 26, 2024

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows February 26, 2024. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, S, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BITTER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BASIC TASTES

Reveal all four words
  • BITTER
  • SALTY
  • SOUR
  • SWEET

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, C, F and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BRAVE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

STAND UP TO, AS A CHALLENGE

Reveal all four words
  • BRAVE
  • CONFRONT
  • FACE
  • MEET

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with K, S, T and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

KIND belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ILK

Reveal all four words
  • KIND
  • SORT
  • TYPE
  • VARIETY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with E, M, R and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

EXPRESSION belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ART MOVEMENTS, WITH -ISM

Reveal all four words
  • EXPRESSION
  • MANNER
  • ROMANTIC
  • SURREAL
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BASIC TASTES
  • Green: STAND UP TO, AS A CHALLENGE
  • Blue: ILK
  • Purple: ART MOVEMENTS, WITH -ISM

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BASIC TASTES

BITTER · SALTY · SOUR · SWEET

Green

STAND UP TO, AS A CHALLENGE

BRAVE · CONFRONT · FACE · MEET

Blue

ILK

KIND · SORT · TYPE · VARIETY

Purple

ART MOVEMENTS, WITH -ISM

EXPRESSION · MANNER · ROMANTIC · SURREAL

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.