A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #987
hints & answers for February 22, 2026

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 22, 2026. 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, M, O and R. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLACK SHEEP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ONE WHO DOESN'T FIT IN

Reveal all four words
  • BLACK SHEEP
  • MISFIT
  • OUTCAST
  • REJECT

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DISTINGUISHED belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DESCRIPTORS FOR GRAYING HAIR

Reveal all four words
  • DISTINGUISHED
  • FLECKED
  • SALT-AND-PEPPER
  • SILVER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLONDIE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CLASSIC COMIC STRIPS

Reveal all four words
  • BLONDIE
  • BLOOM COUNTY
  • PEANUTS
  • THE FAR SIDE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BIG STICK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASSOCIATED WITH THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Reveal all four words
  • BIG STICK
  • BULL MOOSE
  • ROUGH RIDERS
  • TEDDY BEAR
Show categories only
  • Yellow: ONE WHO DOESN'T FIT IN
  • Green: DESCRIPTORS FOR GRAYING HAIR
  • Blue: CLASSIC COMIC STRIPS
  • Purple: ASSOCIATED WITH THEODORE ROOSEVELT

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ONE WHO DOESN'T FIT IN

BLACK SHEEP · MISFIT · OUTCAST · REJECT

Green

DESCRIPTORS FOR GRAYING HAIR

DISTINGUISHED · FLECKED · SALT-AND-PEPPER · SILVER

Blue

CLASSIC COMIC STRIPS

BLONDIE · BLOOM COUNTY · PEANUTS · THE FAR SIDE

Purple

ASSOCIATED WITH THEODORE ROOSEVELT

BIG STICK · BULL MOOSE · ROUGH RIDERS · TEDDY BEAR

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.