Today's NYT Connections Answers, Hints, and Clues on February 13

A guide to solving the popular word association puzzle

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The article provides hints, clues, and the full answers for the New York Times Connections puzzle #978 on February 13. Connections is a daily word association game that challenges players to sort a grid of 16 words into four different categories. The author offers starter words and descriptions for each of the four groups in the February 13 puzzle, which is rated a 2.4 out of 5 for difficulty.

Why it matters

Connections is a popular daily puzzle in the New York Times that tests players' word association and problem-solving skills. Providing hints and answers can help players who are stuck complete the puzzle and enjoy the challenge.

The details

The article breaks down the four groups in the February 13 Connections puzzle: 🟨 Words to describe things as absolute, 🟩 Types of pennants, 🟦 Popular types/brands of cigarettes, and 🟪 Words that sound like 'to get smaller'. It then reveals the full answers for each group: 🟨 PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER; 🟩 BANNER, COLORS, FLAG, STANDARD; 🟦 CAMEL, KENT, PARLIAMENT, SALEM; and 🟪 LESSON, RESEED, SYNC, WAYNE.

  • The New York Times Connections puzzle #978 was published on February 13, 2026.

The players

New York Times

The publisher of the popular daily Connections puzzle.

Jack Goodall

The author of the article providing hints, clues, and answers for the February 13 Connections puzzle.

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What they’re saying

“Connections is one of the most popular word association games in the New York Times' repertoire of puzzles.”

— Jack Goodall, Author (pcguide.com)

“We'd say that the game progressively gets easier as you complete a category or two, since you're thinning out the words and can remove any potentially incorrect links (many words in the puzzle may seem to belong to a common theme, but end up acting as red herrings).”

— Jack Goodall, Author (pcguide.com)

What’s next

The article does not mention any specific next steps or future newsworthy events related to the Connections puzzle.

The takeaway

The article provides a helpful guide for players struggling with the February 13 edition of the New York Times Connections puzzle, offering hints, clues, and the full answers to assist players in completing the challenge.