Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Approach a meal as though you have not eaten all day.
Show one word
BOLT belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
EAT VORACIOUSLY
Reveal all four words
- BOLT
- GORGE
- INHALE
- SCARF
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #988
hints & answers for February 23, 2026
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#988
This reference always shows February 23, 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.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, C, P and V. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CHRISTMAS TREE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
CONICAL THINGS
Reveal all four words
- CHRISTMAS TREE
- CONE
- PARTY HAT
- VOLCANO
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, F, M and P. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BLUFF belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
POSE
Reveal all four words
- BLUFF
- FRONT
- MASQUERADE
- POSTURE
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, M, N and W. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BLARNEY STONE belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
SETTINGS FOR A KISS
Reveal all four words
- BLARNEY STONE
- MISTLETOE
- NEW YEAR'S EVE
- WEDDING
Show categories only
- Yellow: EAT VORACIOUSLY
- Green: CONICAL THINGS
- Blue: POSE
- Purple: SETTINGS FOR A KISS
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
EAT VORACIOUSLY
BOLT · GORGE · INHALE · SCARF
Green
CONICAL THINGS
CHRISTMAS TREE · CONE · PARTY HAT · VOLCANO
Blue
POSE
BLUFF · FRONT · MASQUERADE · POSTURE
Purple
SETTINGS FOR A KISS
BLARNEY STONE · MISTLETOE · NEW YEAR'S EVE · WEDDING
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.
Continue from this date
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.