NYT Connections Today, Wednesday February 25: Hints, Clues & Answers (Game #990)

NYT Connections 25 February, 2026: The NYT Connections puzzle has players engaged players with its clever word connections and logic that teases the brain. Following in the success of Wordle, the game is still gaining popularity every day among word puzzle enthusiasts. The game engages over half a million players every day, which is a clear indication that language puzzles are still in vogue.

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a word association puzzle published daily by The New York Times. The goal is to group 16 wordsinto four sets of four based on a hidden connection where each group is color coded by difficulty:

• Green – easiest
• Yellow – moderate
• Blue – challenging
• Purple – hardest

The simplicity of its design contrasts with the tricky logic required to solve it, making it one of the Times’ fastest growing games.

How to Play NYT Connections

• You start with 16 words arranged in a grid.
• Find four words that share a common theme.
• Select them together to form a group.
• Each correct set is color coded (green, yellow, blue, purple).
• You can make up to four wrong guesses before the game ends.
• Once all sets are found, you’ve completed the day’s puzzle.

Today’s Connections Words for 25 February (Wednesday)

• NAPKIN
• COOK
• BABY
• PRINCIPAL
• DEAN
• NURSE
• KEY
• MOTHER
• BASIC
• ALKALINE
• HARDEN
• FOSTER
• DIATRIBE
• PRIMARY
• BROWN
• DECLAN

Today’s Connections Hints for 25 February (Wednesday)

• Yellow: Look after
• Green: Starter or fundamental
• Blue: Shared first name
• Purple: Ends with family related words

NYT Connections Answers for 25 February (#990)

• Yellow – CARE FOR: BABY, FOSTER, MOTHER, NURSE
• Green – ELEMENTARY: BASIC, KEY, PRIMARY, PRINCIPAL
• Blue – JAMESES: BROWN, COOK, DEAN, HARDEN
• Purple – ENDING IN FAMILY WORDS: ALKALINE, DECLAN, DIATRIBE, NAPKIN

Yesterday’s NYT Connections Answers for 24 February (#989)

• Yellow – CALCIUM BASED STRUCTURES: BONES, CORAL, SHELLS, TEETH
• Green – SYMBOLS OF SCOTLAND: BAGPIPES, SCOTTIE, TARTAN, THISTLE
• Blue – FAMOUS PLAYWRIGHTS: CHEKHOV, COWARD, MILLER, SHAW
• Purple – BEAM: BALANCE, JIM, LASER, TRACTOR

FAQ’s – NYT Connections

1. How often is a new Connections puzzle released?

Every day at midnight Eastern Time.

2. Can I replay old puzzles?

Yes, archived puzzles are available for NYT Games subscribers.

3. How many mistakes can I make?

You are allowed up to four incorrect groupings.

4. Is NYT Connections free to play?

Yes, it’s free on the NYT Games site or app.

5. What’s the average solve rate?

Roughly 38% of players solve all four groups without errors.