Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Feb. 17, #982

The New York Times Connections puzzle for February 17, 2026, challenged players with four distinct word groupings, each themed around a specific concept. The puzzle’s categories included words associated with speed, Chinese cuisine sauces, actions related to quickly turning pages, and a set of words beginning with synonyms for failure. The answers for the yellow group, themed “very fast,” were dart, flash, speed, and zip. The green group focused on Chinese sauces, featuring hoisin, oyster, plum, and soy. The blue group’s theme was “riffle (through),” with slip, leaf, skim, and thumb as the solutions. The purple group involved words starting with synonyms for “dud,” adding a more challenging and nuanced layer to the puzzle. This edition of the Connections puzzle also incorporated a “purple category,” known for its complexity, requiring solvers to identify hidden words embedded within the grid. Players were encouraged to think creatively and use lateral thinking to uncover these subtle clues. The puzzle’s design continues to engage a broad audience by combining straightforward word associations with more intricate linguistic puzzles, maintaining the game’s reputation for balancing accessibility with challenge. In addition to the puzzle itself, The New York Times offers a Connections Bot, similar to the one used for Wordle, which allows registered players to receive a numeric score and detailed analysis of their answers. This feature tracks players’ progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rates, perfect scores, and win streaks, fostering a competitive and community-driven environment for puzzle enthusiasts. The puzzle’s creator, Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, is a seasoned journalist and pop-culture expert with a background spanning several decades and multiple media outlets. Her expertise in entertainment and generational studies informs the puzzle’s cultural references and thematic choices, contributing to its appeal among a diverse audience. The continued popularity of the Connections puzzle highlights the enduring appeal of word games as both a recreational activity and a tool for cognitive engagement.