Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSpoiler warning: Connections puzzle #980, for Sunday, February 15, 2026, asks you to divide 16 words into four groups of four. You can make up to four mistakes before the game reveals the remaining answers. Try the hints below first, then open the full solution when you are ready.
Today’s Connections hints
These clues progress from broad to specific. The starter word for each group is included to help you confirm the theme without giving away every entry immediately.
Yellow hint
Tomes filled with useful information. Starter word: ATLAS.
Green hint
Words that help you recall something. Starter word: ECHO.
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Blue hint
Add a word to explain someone’s big issues. Starter word: ELECTRA.
Purple hint
Look at the first syllable of each word. Starter word: BUZZARD.
Connections #980 answers
The complete solution for Sunday’s board is:
| Color | Category | Four words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Reference books | ATLAS, DICTIONARY, ENCYCLOPEDIA, THESAURUS |
| Green | Something that brings back memories | ECHO, REMINDER, TRACE, VESTIGE |
| Blue | Kinds of complexes | ELECTRA, INFERIORITY, OEDIPUS, SUPERIORITY |
| Purple | Starting with ways to reach someone via phone | BUZZARD, CALLIOPE, DIALECT, RINGMASTER |
Why the purple group works
Each purple answer starts with a phone-contact word: BUZZard, CALLiope, DIALect and RINGmaster. The words after those openings are not the category; the hidden starts are the wordplay that links the group. Forbes contributor Erik Kain described them as ways to “call a friend up, dial their number, give them a ring, or buzz them.”
How difficult was today’s puzzle?
Forbes reported a 2/5 difficulty rating from Connections Bot for this puzzle. That is an editorially reported assessment, not an official New York Times rating. The yellow set is relatively direct, while the purple set asks you to notice the sounds and spellings at the beginnings of longer words.
How Connections works
Connections presents a 16-word board. Select four words that share a category, submit the group, and continue until four groups are found. The color tiers indicate increasing difficulty, and you have four incorrect guesses available. A NYT Games subscription may also provide access to the archive of earlier puzzles; availability and subscription terms can change.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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