Stuck on today’s NYT Connections puzzle? You’re in the right place. Here are all the hints, clues, and answers you need to solve Connections #986.
What Is NYT Connections?
Connections is a daily word game from the New York Times. Players group 16 words into four categories of four, with each category sharing a hidden common thread.
The four color-coded difficulty levels are:
- Yellow – Easiest
- Green – Medium
- Blue – Hard
- Purple – Hardest
You get up to four mistakes before the game ends, so use your guesses wisely.
Hints for February 21, 2026 – Connections #986
Not ready for the full answers? Here are gentle hints for each category:
- Yellow: Think about your track record or résumé
- Green: What a teacher marks you as on any given day
- Blue: Something you might say after finishing the puzzle
- Purple: Famous car brands — with a twist
Today’s Connections Categories
Need a bit more help? Here are the category names without the answers:
- Yellow: Experience
- Green: Attendance status
- Blue: Commentary about your Connections results
- Purple: Car brands plus two letters
Answers for NYT Connections #986 – February 21, 2026
Here are the full solutions:
- Experience (Yellow): BACKGROUND, HISTORY, LIFE, PAST
- Attendance status (Green): ABSENT, EXCUSED, LATE, PRESENT
- Commentary about your Connections results (Blue): GREAT, PERFECT, PHEW, SOLID
- Car brands plus two letters (Purple): AUDITS, DODGERS, INFINITIVE, MINION