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Hints for Connections #981
If you want a nudge before seeing the full solution, consider these category clues:
- One group is about things that make people laugh.
- One group contains words that sound alike.
- One group consists of noises associated with chickens.
- One group names reactions to stress or danger.
Connections answers for February 16, 2026
The four word groups, as reported consistently by the published solution guides, are:
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Knee slapper | HOOT, LAUGH, RIOT, SCREAM |
| Green | Homophones | DO, DOE, DOH, DOUGH |
| Blue | Sounds a chicken makes | BUCK, CACKLE, CLUCK, SQUAWK |
| Purple | Stress responses | FAWN, FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE |
How the four categories fit
Yellow: Knee slapper
HOOT, LAUGH, RIOT and SCREAM can each describe a strong reaction to something funny. “A riot” and “a hoot” are informal ways to call something hilarious, while laugh and scream name reactions that can accompany amusement.
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Green: Homophones
DO, DOE, DOH and DOUGH are pronounced alike in common English usage, though they have different meanings and spellings.
Blue: Sounds a chicken makes
BUCK, CACKLE, CLUCK and SQUAWK are presented as chicken sounds. In particular, BUCK can be less immediately obvious alongside the more familiar cluck, cackle and squawk.
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Purple: Stress responses
FAWN, FIGHT, FLIGHT and FREEZE are words for responses associated with stress or perceived threat. The shared idea is how someone reacts, rather than a single type of sound or expression.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the board can be tricky
Some words have more than one plausible association, so look for a category that accounts for all four words rather than submitting as soon as a pair seems to fit. The solution guides establish these four groupings, but do not document the puzzle constructor’s specific rationale for individual distractors.
This is a historical solution for the Monday, February 16, 2026 puzzle, numbered #981. The answer key is supported by multiple published guides; the cited sources are secondary guides, not an official New York Times archive entry for this puzzle.
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