Stuck on today’s NYT Connections puzzle? You’re in the right place. This guide gives you helpful hints, clues, and the full answers for Connections #982 on February 17, 2026.
Whether you want a gentle nudge or the complete solution, we’ve got everything you need to conquer today’s puzzle.
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections is one of the most popular word games from The New York Times. Players must find the common thread between 16 words and sort them into four groups of four.
Each group is color-coded by difficulty — yellow is the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple (the hardest). You get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
The puzzle resets daily at midnight, making it a fun daily challenge for word game fans around the world.
How to Play Connections
Playing Connections is simple once you know the rules:
- You’re shown 16 words on a 4×4 grid.
- Select four words you believe share a common category.
- Submit your group — if correct, those words are removed from the board.
- Each wrong guess counts as a mistake. Four mistakes and the game is over.
- You can shuffle the board at any time to help spot hidden connections.
Hints for February 17, 2026 — Connections #982
Not ready for the full answers? Here are gentle hints for each category in today’s puzzle:
Yellow (Easiest): To Fly Through
Think of words that mean to move very fast — like a speedy burst of movement.
Green: Asian Condiments
These are all classic sauces you’d find in Chinese cuisine. Think about what you’d dip or stir-fry with.
Blue: Done to a Book Page
These words all describe how you might move quickly through pages — similar to the word “riffle.”
Purple (Hardest): Starting with Synonyms for “Dud”
Each answer in this group begins with a word that means “failure” or “dud.” Think beyond the obvious — these are compound or longer words.
Today’s Category Clues for Connections #982
Still need a little more direction? Here are the official category titles:
- Yellow: Zoom
- Green: Sauces in Chinese cuisine
- Blue: Riffle (through)
- Purple: Starting with synonyms for “Dud”
Full Answers for NYT Connections February 17, 2026
Ready for the complete solution? Here are the answers to Connections #982:
Yellow — Zoom (Words That Mean Speed)
- DART, FLASH, SPEED, ZIP
These are all synonyms for moving very quickly. A classic, clean yellow group.
Green — Sauces in Chinese Cuisine
- HOISIN, OYSTER, PLUM, SOY
All four are common sauces used in Chinese cooking. If you eat Chinese food regularly, these should feel familiar.
Blue — Riffle (Through)
- FLIP, LEAF, SKIM, THUMB
Each of these words can precede “through” to describe casually flipping past pages or content.
Purple — Starting with Synonyms for “Dud”
- BOMBAY, BUSTLE, FLOPPY, MISSUS
Each word starts with a synonym for failure: BOMB, BUST, FLOP, MISS. This tricky purple group is all about hidden wordplay within bigger words.