NYT Connections Answers for February 16th, 2026 Puzzle #981 Revealed

Hints and solutions for the daily crossword-style game from The New York Times

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The answers and hints for the New York Times' daily Connections puzzle #981, released on February 16th, 2026, have been revealed. The puzzle features 16 words that need to be sorted into 4 groups of 4 words each that share a common theme or connection.

Why it matters

The New York Times' Connections puzzle is a popular daily brain teaser that challenges readers to find the hidden connections between seemingly unrelated words. Providing the solutions and hints helps players who may be stuck on the puzzle, allowing them to learn the answers and improve their puzzle-solving skills.

The details

The 16 words in the Connections #981 puzzle are: BUCK, SCREAM, DO, LAUGH, FAWN, DOE, FLIGHT, SQUAWK, HOOT, FIGHT, RIOT, DOUGH, FREEZE, CACKLE, DOH, CLUCK. The four groups of 4 words that share a connection are: 'KNEE SLAPPER' (HOOT, LAUGH, RIOT, SCREAM), 'HOMOPHONES' (DO, DOE, DOH, DOUGH), 'SOUNDS A CHICKEN MAKES' (BUCK, CACKLE, CLUCK, SQUAWK), and 'STRESS RESPONSES' (FAWN, FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE).

  • The Connections #981 puzzle was released on February 16th, 2026.

The players

New York Times

The prestigious newspaper that publishes the daily Connections puzzle game.

Khadija Saifi

The author of the article revealing the answers and hints for the Connections #981 puzzle.

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What they’re saying

“If you're struggling with today's NYT Connections answers, we've included some hints to help you out. If that's not enough, we have the answers too.”

— Khadija Saifi, Author (fortniteinsider.com)

What’s next

Readers can use the provided hints and solutions to help them solve future Connections puzzles from the New York Times.

The takeaway

The New York Times' Connections puzzle is a popular daily brain teaser that challenges readers to find hidden connections between words. By providing the solutions and hints, players can improve their puzzle-solving skills and enjoy the game more.