Connections #979 Answers – February 14, 2026
Updated
Hints and answers for NYT Connections puzzle #979 on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Reveal as much or as little as you need.
No spoilers until you tap Reveal.
Today's 16 words
BREATHBUMPGUMPHIKEHUMPJUMPJUNIORLUMPMOUNDPEPPERPHILLIPSRISESPEARSPIKESULLYWOODY
Hint 1: one word from each group
Yellow (easiest)
HIKE belongs to this group.
Green
BUMP belongs to this group.
Blue
GUMP belongs to this group.
Purple (hardest)
BREATH belongs to this group.
Hint 2: the categories
Yellow (easiest) category
UPTICK
Green category
PROTUBERANCE
Blue category
TOM HANKS ROLES
Purple (hardest) category
WORDS BEFORE "MINT"
Connections #979 answers
Show all four groups
UPTICKHIKE, JUMP, RISE, SPIKE
PROTUBERANCEBUMP, HUMP, LUMP, MOUND
TOM HANKS ROLESGUMP, PHILLIPS, SULLY, WOODY
WORDS BEFORE "MINT"BREATH, JUNIOR, PEPPER, SPEAR
Recent Connections answers
FAQ
What are the Connections answers for February 14, 2026?
UPTICK: HIKE, JUMP, RISE, SPIKE. PROTUBERANCE: BUMP, HUMP, LUMP, MOUND. TOM HANKS ROLES: GUMP, PHILLIPS, SULLY, WOODY. WORDS BEFORE "MINT": BREATH, JUNIOR, PEPPER, SPEAR.
What do the Connections colors mean?
Yellow is the easiest group, then green, blue and purple, which is usually the trickiest.