Connections #988 Answers – February 23, 2026
Updated
Hints and answers for NYT Connections puzzle #988 on Monday, February 23, 2026. Reveal as much or as little as you need.
No spoilers until you tap Reveal.
Today's 16 words
BLARNEY STONEBLUFFBOLTCHRISTMAS TREECONEFRONTGORGEINHALEMASQUERADEMISTLETOENEW YEAR'S EVEPARTY HATPOSTURESCARFVOLCANOWEDDING
Hint 1: one word from each group
Yellow (easiest)
BOLT belongs to this group.
Green
CHRISTMAS TREE belongs to this group.
Blue
BLUFF belongs to this group.
Purple (hardest)
BLARNEY STONE belongs to this group.
Hint 2: the categories
Yellow (easiest) category
EAT VORACIOUSLY
Green category
CONICAL THINGS
Blue category
POSE
Purple (hardest) category
SETTINGS FOR A KISS
Connections #988 answers
Show all four groups
EAT VORACIOUSLYBOLT, GORGE, INHALE, SCARF
CONICAL THINGSCHRISTMAS TREE, CONE, PARTY HAT, VOLCANO
POSEBLUFF, FRONT, MASQUERADE, POSTURE
SETTINGS FOR A KISSBLARNEY STONE, MISTLETOE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, WEDDING
Recent Connections answers
FAQ
What are the Connections answers for February 23, 2026?
EAT VORACIOUSLY: BOLT, GORGE, INHALE, SCARF. CONICAL THINGS: CHRISTMAS TREE, CONE, PARTY HAT, VOLCANO. POSE: BLUFF, FRONT, MASQUERADE, POSTURE. SETTINGS FOR A KISS: BLARNEY STONE, MISTLETOE, NEW YEAR'S EVE, WEDDING.
What do the Connections colors mean?
Yellow is the easiest group, then green, blue and purple, which is usually the trickiest.