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The February 25, 2026, puzzle is Connections #990. Its four categories are care, fundamentals, people named James, and words ending in family or group terms. Spoilers follow.
Hints for Connections #990
Try these from gentlest to strongest before reading the full solution:
- Yellow: Think of looking after someone.
- Green: These words can describe something foundational or essential.
- Blue: Each is a surname shared by a famous person named James.
- Purple: Look at the ends of the words for family or close-group terms.
February 25 Connections answers
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| CARE FOR | BABY, FOSTER, MOTHER, NURSE | Each can describe caring for or nurturing someone. |
| ELEMENTARY | BASIC, KEY, PRIMARY, PRINCIPAL | Each can mean fundamental, chief, or foundational. |
| JAMESES | BROWN, COOK, DEAN, HARDEN | These are surnames of James Brown, James Cook, James Dean, and James Harden. |
| ENDING IN FAMILY WORDS | ALKALINE, DECLAN, DIATRIBE, NAPKIN | ALKALINE and NAPKIN end in “kin”; DECLAN ends in “clan”; DIATRIBE ends in “tribe.” |
The full 16-word grid
NAPKIN, COOK, BABY, PRINCIPAL, DEAN, NURSE, KEY, MOTHER, BASIC, ALKALINE, HARDEN, FOSTER, DIATRIBE, PRIMARY, BROWN, DECLAN.
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A solving order that helps avoid red herrings
- Start with the most literal connection: the words about caring for someone.
- Then test the straightforward foundational synonyms.
- For the surnames, check whether the four remaining names pair with the forename James.
- Leave the hidden endings for last if needed. “Kin,” “clan,” and “tribe” are family or close-group terms, and the overlap between word meanings and word endings can make this category less obvious.
Difficulty and daily timing
PC Guide reported that The New York Times rated this puzzle 2.3 out of 5 for difficulty. The rating is specific to puzzle #990, not a measure of all Connections puzzles.
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Connections presents 16 words to sort into four groups of four. TechRadar says players can make up to four mistakes and play through the NYT Games site. A new puzzle appears at midnight in each time zone, so the daily puzzle may differ depending on where you play.
Quick Recap
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