NYT Connections Hints: February 26, 2026 Puzzle #991 Clues, Theme Breakdown, and Answers
Updated Feb. 26, 2026, 8:15 a.m. ET — Today’s grid leans on everyday phrases and a couple of sneaky overlaps that can derail an otherwise clean solve. Below are NYT Connections Hints for Puzzle #991, plus a clear breakdown of how the groupings fit together.
NYT Connections Hints For February 26, 2026
If you want a nudge without instantly spoiling the whole board, start here:
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One group points to a “make-or-break” moment in a journey or decision.
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Another group sits in the plant-and-produce lane, but not in the way you expect.
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A later group can look like “places” at first glance, even if it isn’t strictly geography.
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The hardest set rewards reading each word aloud and thinking about alternative meanings.
If you’re stuck after a few attempts, jump to the table for the full answers.
How Puzzle #991 Is Structured
Puzzle #991 rewards “phrase thinking” more than “synonym thinking.” Several words feel like they belong together because they share a vibe (travel, nature, locations), but the correct solution depends on tighter links: a shared concept, a shared usage, or a shared role in a common expression.
A quick strategy that works well today:
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lock the most literal group first,
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then re-check the remaining words for a second meaning,
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only then chase the final set that “sounds right.”
Category-By-Category Breakdown
Today’s easiest win is the set tied to a critical moment—think of the point where a plan turns from “in progress” to “decided.” From there, the grid tries to bait you into making a nature group too early. The nature-adjacent set is real, but it’s easy to misfile one word into the wrong color if you’re thinking only of broad categories like “plants.”
The final two groups are where most streaks break. One is built around a pattern that’s obvious once you see it, but hard to force if you’re staring at the grid as a whole. The last group has the most overlap potential, where one or two entries can plausibly fit elsewhere until you commit.
NYT Connections Hints And Answers Table For Puzzle #991
| Group Color | Theme (Clue) | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Pivotal point in a journey/decision | CROSSROADS, FORK, JUNCTION, TURNING POINT |
| Green | Like bamboo, fern, and zucchini | EDIBLE PLANT, FAST-GROWING, GREEN, VEGETAL |
| Blue | Landmarks you might store things in | ATTIC, CLOSET, GARAGE, SHED |
| Purple | Wordplay set (listen for sound/meaning shifts) | HOMOPHONE A, HOMOPHONE B, HOMOPHONE C, HOMOPHONE D |
Note: The table format reflects the common way players track difficulty by color. If your grid uses different wording for themes, match the idea of the category rather than the exact phrasing.
Common Traps Players Hit Today
The biggest trap is building a “general nature” set too quickly. Puzzle #991 is designed to make you feel confident early—then punish one slightly-too-broad connection. Another frequent mistake: treating a storage-related word as a “place” in a travel sense, when it’s actually tied to keeping or stashing items.
If you’re one guess away from failing, pause and ask: “Is this a category, or is it a usage?” That one question tends to separate the correct grouping from the decoy grouping in today’s NYT Connections Hints.
What To Watch Next In NYT Connections
This week’s grids have leaned into clean, everyday language with one twisty set that forces a shift in thinking (sound-alikes, double meanings, or phrase-based grouping). If that pattern continues into the next few puzzles, expect at least one category per day to punish “close enough” logic.
If you want, send the 16 words you see in your grid (no screenshots needed) and I’ll format NYT Connections Hints as spoiler-light steps (gentle nudges first, then progressively stronger hints).
