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Looking for the NYT Connections hints for Tuesday, March 3, 2026? Puzzle #996 groups its 16 words into “BIG” things, words meaning be adjacent to, items seen in a closet, and words beginning with synonyms for “speedy.” Hints appear first, followed by the complete answers.
NYT Connections #996 hints for Tuesday, March 3
Use these clues in order and stop when you have enough to finish the grid. The final hint gives away the intended wordplay.
- Yellow: Think of things that can be described as “BIG,” or ways to go large.
- Green: These words can describe being next to, right by, or alongside something.
- Blue: Look inside a wardrobe or closet for this group.
- Purple: Each word starts with a synonym for “speedy.” Split the words after that opening chunk.
Connections #996 answers and categories
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | “BIG” THINGS | APPLE, BROTHER, DIPPER, MAC |
| Green | BE ADJACENT TO | ABUT, FLANK, NEIGHBOR, TOUCH |
| Blue | SEEN IN A CLOSET | HANGER, HOOK, ROD, SHELF |
| Purple | STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR “SPEEDY” | BRISKET, FASTIDIOUS, FLEETWOOD, QUICKSAND |
Yellow: “BIG” things
APPLE, BROTHER, DIPPER, and MAC can all follow or pair with “Big.” Examples include Big Apple, Big Brother, Big Dipper, and Big Mac.
Green: be adjacent to
ABUT, FLANK, NEIGHBOR, and TOUCH describe things that are next to or directly alongside one another.
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Blue: seen in a closet
A closet can contain a HANGER, HOOK, ROD, and SHELF.
Purple: starting with synonyms for “speedy”
The wordplay group hides a speed-related synonym at the beginning of each answer:
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- BRISK + et = BRISKET
- FAST + idious = FASTIDIOUS
- FLEET + wood = FLEETWOOD
- QUICK + sand = QUICKSAND
How NYT Connections works
Connections gives you a 16-word grid and asks you to arrange every word into four groups of four that share a connection. Red herrings can make several groupings look plausible. You lose after a fourth incorrect guess, so submit a set only when its relationship is clear. The usual difficulty order runs from yellow (easiest) through green and blue to purple (hardest), although wordplay and misleading overlaps can change how difficult any individual puzzle feels.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.All 16 words in puzzle #996
APPLE, HANGER, FLEETWOOD, MAC, FLANK, BROTHER, BRISKET, HOOK, TOUCH, SHELF, FASTIDIOUS, NEIGHBOR, ROD, ABUT, DIPPER, QUICKSAND.
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