NYT Connections Today Answer for Monday, February 23, 2026 (ET)

Players searching for the NYT Connections today answer are diving into another tricky grid as Monday’s puzzle challenges word association skills with layered themes and subtle misdirection. Puzzle fans across the country began sharing hints shortly after midnight ET, trying to crack one of the more deceptive boards of the week.

Below is a full breakdown of the NYT Connections today answer, including category explanations and strategy insights to help with future games.

NYT Connections Today Answer: Puzzle #623 Overview

The February 23, 2026 puzzle (Puzzle #623) featured words that appeared straightforward at first glance but quickly revealed overlapping meanings. Many players reported difficulty distinguishing between literal and figurative uses of several terms.

Here are the four correct groupings for the NYT Connections today answer:

As usual, the puzzle is color-coded by difficulty, with yellow being the easiest and purple the most challenging.

Yellow Group: Types of Knots

The easiest category in the NYT Connections today answer centered on knot terminology: SQUARE, SHEET, REEF, and SLIP.

At first glance, some players were distracted by alternate meanings of “SHEET” or “SLIP,” but those familiar with nautical or practical knot terms quickly identified the connection. This group required recognizing a specific technical definition rather than common everyday usage.

Green Group: Words Meaning “Quick Look”

The green category gathered GLANCE, PEEK, GANDER, and OGLE — all words describing ways of looking at something briefly.

The challenge here was differentiating between neutral and informal tones. “OGLE” often implies staring inappropriately, while “GANDER” is casual slang. Despite tonal differences, the shared concept of looking made this one of the more satisfying solves in today’s grid.

Blue Group: Homophones of Letters

The blue set proved trickier for many players. SEA (C), QUEUE (Q), TEA (T), and YOU (U) all sound like individual letters of the alphabet.

This category required a phonetic leap rather than a semantic one. Players who said the words aloud often found the connection faster. The misdirection came from the fact that several of these words also fit into other possible categories at first glance.

Purple Group: Words That Precede “Board”

The hardest category in the NYT Connections today answer involved words that can precede “board”: SURFboard, SKATEboard, DASHboard, STORYboard.

Purple categories often rely on compound word recognition or abstract relationships. Today’s grouping followed that tradition. Some players initially grouped SURF and SKATE together due to sports associations but struggled to place DASH and STORY until recognizing the compound pattern.

Why Today’s Puzzle Felt Challenging

Many players noted that today’s grid included multiple overlapping interpretations. For example:

• “SLIP” could relate to mistakes.

• “SHEET” could connect to bedding.

• “BOARD” associations might suggest corporate or classroom themes.

This layered design increased the difficulty level despite one relatively straightforward category.

Social media discussions early Monday morning (ET) described the puzzle as “deceptively simple” and “sneaky,” particularly because several words comfortably fit more than one mental grouping before the correct arrangement became clear.

Strategy Tips After Reviewing NYT Connections Today Answer

If today’s game felt tough, here are a few takeaways for future puzzles:

• Say words aloud to catch homophones.

• Look for compound word patterns, especially for purple groups.

• Watch for technical definitions, such as nautical or formal terminology.

• Avoid locking in early assumptions when a word has multiple meanings.

The NYT Connections today answer once again demonstrated how the puzzle blends vocabulary knowledge with lateral thinking. With each daily grid released at midnight ET, players get a fresh opportunity to test pattern recognition and wordplay instincts.

For those who didn’t solve it today, tomorrow’s puzzle offers another chance — and likely another cleverly disguised set of connections waiting to be uncovered.