A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #993
hints & answers for February 28, 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 28, 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 D, I, T and U. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DESIRE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CRAVING

Reveal all four words
  • DESIRE
  • ITCH
  • THIRST
  • URGE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CRUISE DIRECTOR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELING

Reveal all four words
  • CRUISE DIRECTOR
  • PILOT
  • ROADIE
  • SALESMAN

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

EARNEST belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

NAME HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • EARNEST
  • KNEEL
  • RUSTLE
  • TAILOR

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COMETH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTER

Reveal all four words
  • COMETH
  • NOVAK
  • START
  • SUNG
Show categories only
  • Yellow: CRAVING
  • Green: JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELING
  • Blue: NAME HOMOPHONES
  • Purple: ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CRAVING

DESIRE · ITCH · THIRST · URGE

Green

JOBS THAT INVOLVE TRAVELING

CRUISE DIRECTOR · PILOT · ROADIE · SALESMAN

Blue

NAME HOMOPHONES

EARNEST · KNEEL · RUSTLE · TAILOR

Purple

ASTRONOMICAL TERMS PLUS A LETTER

COMETH · NOVAK · START · SUNG

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.