Today’s NYT Connections hint & answers #987: clues for February 22
Clues and hints to help you solve puzzle #987
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If you’re stuck staring at today’s NYT Connections puzzle, you’re definitely not alone. With 16 words and only four wrong guesses allowed, it’s easy to chase false patterns before the real categories reveal themselves. To help you out, we’ve put together a set of hints to nudge you in the right direction. And if you’d rather jump straight to the solutions, you’ll find the full answers further down the page.
This guide walks you through NYT Connections puzzle #987, released on Saturday, February 22.
Hints for today’s Connections groups
Below are four clues designed to point you toward each category. They’re arranged from the easiest group to the trickiest one:
- 🟨 hint: Not popular
- 🟩 hint: Like George Clooney, maybe
- 🟦 hint: Doonesbury also
- 🟪 hint: The 26th US president
If you’d like an extra nudge, here’s one word from each group:
- 🟨: BLACK SHEEP
- 🟩: SILVER
- 🟦: PEANUTS
- 🟪: TEDDY BEAR
Today’s Connections answers (February 22)
If you’re ready for the full solution, here it is:
- 🟨 One who doesn’t fit in: BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT
- 🟩 Descriptors for graying hair: DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER
- 🟦 Classic comic strips: BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE
- 🟪 Associated with Theodore Roosevelt: BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR
Today’s puzzle leaned more toward cultural references than pure wordplay. The yellow and green groups were fairly straightforward once you spotted the theme, but the blue and purple categories required a bit more outside knowledge, especially recognizing comic strips and historical associations with Theodore Roosevelt.
Can Connections get harder?
Connections doesn’t gradually increase in difficulty, but the puzzle style varies from day to day. Some boards focus on direct definitions, while others rely on puns, hidden meanings, or pop culture and history.
Often, once you secure one or two groups, the remaining words become much easier to sort. Just remember, you only get four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends, so it’s worth double-checking any uncertain connections before submitting.
