NYT Connections Hints and Answers — Monday, February 23, 2026 (Puzzle #988)

Today's NYT Connections puzzle #988 is a satisfying Monday challenge mixing physical actions, familiar shapes, tricky doubles, and romantic traditions. Here are the hints and full answers, structured from easiest to hardest.

 Yellow — Easiest

Hint: Think urgency at the dinner table. These four words all mean to eat very quickly and greedily.

One-word nudge: GORGE

Answer — EAT VORACIOUSLY: BOLT, GORGE, INHALE, SCARF

 Green — Easy

Hint: Think about the shape — not the object itself. All four of these things share a distinctive dunce-cap silhouette.

One-word nudge: CONE

Answer — CONICAL THINGS: CHRISTMAS TREE, CONE, PARTY HAT, VOLCANO

 Blue — Medium

Hint: These words aren't about lying exactly — more about putting on an act or striking a stance. Think faking it.

One-word nudge: BLUFF

Answer — POSE: BLUFF, FRONT, MASQUERADE, POSTURE

 Purple — Hardest

Hint: These aren't things you kiss — they're the settings or occasions where a kiss is expected or traditional. Think: where or when do people smooch?

One-word nudge: MISTLETOE

Answer — SETTINGS FOR A KISS: BLARNEY STONE, MISTLETOE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, WEDDING

Today's Trickiest Traps

The puzzle editor's main misdirection today centered on words like GORGE (a physical landform — canyon — and also a verb for eating) and FRONT (a weather front? a political front?) pulling solvers in the wrong direction. MASQUERADE and BLUFF both carry a sense of deception that could confuse players not looking for the broader "pose" category. Start with Yellow if you want an easy win and work toward Purple carefully.

Good luck — and come back tomorrow for Puzzle #989!