NYT Connections: clues and solutions for Wednesday, February 26.

      Connections is one of the top puzzle games from the New York Times. In this game, you are required to sort a set of 16 words into four hidden groups by identifying their relationships. The puzzle resets each night at midnight, and each new puzzle presents varying difficulty levels. Similar to Wordle, you can track your winning streak and compare scores with friends.

      Some days are more challenging than others, akin to other popular NYT Games like The Mini and Strands. If you're finding today’s puzzle a bit difficult, take a look at our guide for tips and tricks on Connections or check out the hints for today’s puzzle below. If you still can't figure it out, we’ll reveal today’s answers at the end.

      How to play Connections:

      Connections is a daily challenge focused on finding common threads between words. Players must identify four groups of four words while making no more than three mistakes. Play now at https://t.co/YITfSnqODb pic.twitter.com/CqObVOqeUs

      — The New York Times (@nytimes) November 3, 2024

      You can play Connections on the New York Times website or via the NYT Games app available on iOS and Android.

      In Connections, you will be presented with a grid of 16 words, and your goal is to arrange these words into four groups of four by recognizing the connections that bind them. The categories could range from titles of video game franchises and book series to shades of red or names of chain restaurants.

      There are often words that could potentially fit into multiple themes, but only one answer is completely correct. You have the option to shuffle the grid to better visualize the connections.

      Each group is color-coded, with the yellow group being the easiest to identify, followed by green, blue, and purple groups. Choose four words and click Submit. If you are correct, those words will be removed from the grid, and the theme linking them will be disclosed. Guess incorrectly, and it counts as a mistake, with a limit of four mistakes allowed until the game concludes.

      Hints for today’s Connections:

      We can assist you in solving today’s Connections by providing the four themes. If you need further help, we’ll also share one word from each group below.

      Today’s themes:

      - EXPENDITURE

      - ONETIME

      - MADE WITH HORIZONTAL LINES

      - SIMPSON FAMILY MEMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED

      One-answer reveals:

      - EXPENDITURE – CHARGE

      - ONETIME – FORMER

      - MADE WITH HORIZONTAL LINES – DASH

      - SIMPSON FAMILY MEMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED – BAGGIE

      New York Times Today’s Connections answers:

      Still having trouble? That’s perfectly fine. This puzzle is meant to be challenging. If you just want to see today’s Connections answer, we’ve got it listed below:

      - EXPENDITURE – CHARGE, COST, PRICE, RATE

      - ONETIME – FORMER, LATE, PAST, PRIOR

      - MADE WITH HORIZONTAL LINES – DASH, HYPHEN, MINUS, UNDERSCORE

      - SIMPSON FAMILY MEMBERS WITH FIRST LETTER CHANGED – BAGGIE, BARGE, COMER, PISA

      The Connections grids differ greatly and change daily. If you couldn’t solve today’s puzzle, be sure to return tomorrow.

      NYT Connection FAQs:

      What time does the Connections puzzle change?

      The puzzle updates daily at midnight local time.

      Who edits the NYT Connections game?

      Wyna Liu, who has been editing puzzles at The New York Times since 2020, oversees Connections on a daily basis.

      “A few months ago, a new task came my way: Create the game boards for Connections, a category-matching game that was recently approved and in need of an editor,” Liu shared in an article discussing her process in June 2024. “Most of my puzzle experience has been focused on crosswords, and I was eager to explore something new. I've enjoyed learning how puzzle editing evolves once a game is greenlighted, and seeing how our team integrates into a broader ecosystem.”

      On the one-year anniversary of Connections launching earlier this year, Liu shared a TikTok showcasing her favorite puzzles so far:

      @thegamesteam ? happy one year anniversary to connections, our newest official NYT game ? #nytgames #nytconnections #nyt ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion – luisa_marion_music