Connections #986 Answers
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Here are the answers to NYT Connections #986 for Saturday, February 21, 2026. The 16 words split into four groups by colour — yellow is easiest, purple the trickiest. The group themes are listed first as hints, then every group is revealed below. Looking for the latest puzzle? See today's Connections.
Hints — the four group themes
- Yellow (easiest): experience
- Green: attendance status
- Blue: commentary about your connections results
- Purple (hardest): car brands plus two letters
Answers
EXPERIENCE
BACKGROUND, HISTORY, LIFE, PAST
ATTENDANCE STATUS
ABSENT, EXCUSED, LATE, PRESENT
COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
GREAT, PERFECT, PHEW, SOLID
CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERS
AUDITS, DODGERS, INFINITIVE, MINION
Previous Connections answers
- #985 — quick fix, associated with the moon, original monopoly tokens, what "jack" might refer to
- #984 — easter supplies, fireplace accessories, elements of "saturday night fever", homophones of ways to cook something
- #983 — retro hair directives, retro slang for cool, chicken descriptors, ___ cream
- #982 — zoom, sauces in chinese cuisine, riffle (through), starting with synonyms for "dud"
- #981 — knee-slapper, homophones, sounds a chicken makes, stress responses
- #980 — reference books, something that brings back memories, kinds of complexes, starting with ways to reach someone via phone
Browse every past puzzle in the Connections answer archive.