Hints and Solutions for NYT Connections: February 20, 2026

The NYT Connections puzzle for today is quite doable if you’re fond of game nights.

Connections is among the most sought-after New York Times word games that has garnered public attention. The objective is to discover “common links among words.” Similar to Wordle, Connections refreshes at midnight, and each fresh batch of words tends to be more difficult—so we’ve compiled some hints and advice to assist you in overcoming the challenges.

If you want the solution to today’s puzzle, head to the end of this article. However, if you’d like to tackle it independently, keep reading for clues, advice, and tactics to support you.

What is Connections?

The NYT‘s newest daily word game has turned into a social media hit. The Times acknowledges associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu for her contributions to developing this new word game and incorporating it into the publication’s Games section. Connections is available on both web browsers and mobile devices, requiring players to categorize four words that have a shared characteristic.

Each puzzle includes 16 words, divided into four groups. These categories can encompass anything like book titles, software names, country names, etc. Even though multiple words may appear to fit together, there’s only one right combination.

If a player successfully identifies all four words in a category, those words are removed from play. An incorrect guess counts as a mistake—players are allowed up to four mistakes before the game concludes.

Players also have the option to rearrange and shuffle the board for better visibility of connections. Moreover, each group is color-coded, with yellow being the simplest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share your results with friends on social platforms.

Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories

Looking for a hint about the categories without revealing them? Consider these:

  • Yellow: Band-Aid

  • Green: Lunar

  • Blue: Board game pieces

  • Purple: Popular men’s name

Here are today’s Connections categories

<p=Need more assistance? Today's connections are grouped into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Quick fix

  • Green: Associated with the moon

  • Blue: Original Monopoly tokens

  • Purple: What “Jack” might refer to

Ready for the solutions? This is your final opportunity to back out and solve today’s puzzle before we disclose the answers.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today’s Connections #985 is…

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Quick fix: EASY ANSWER, MAGIC WAND, PANACEA, SILVER BULLET

  • Associated with the moon: ECLIPSE, GREEN CHEESE, TIDE, WEREWOLF

  • Original Monopoly tokens: BOOT, IRON, THIMBLE, TOP HAT

  • What “Jack” might refer to: CHEESE, DONKEY, PLAYING CARD, SOCKET

Don’t feel bad if you didn’t get it this time. There will be new Connections for you to engage your mind with tomorrow, and we’ll return to provide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also participating in NYT Strands? Access all the Strands hints you require for today’s puzzle.

If you’re in search of more puzzles, Mashable has games available now! Explore our games hub