Connections Hints
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — February 14, 2026
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Show the word gridAll 16 words — you figure out the groups
Show the themesCategory names only, no words revealed
One word per groupTheme name + one word per category
Full solutionAll words and explanations
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Word grid
All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
BREATH
BUMP
GUMP
HIKE
HUMP
JUMP
JUNIOR
LUMP
MOUND
PEPPER
PHILLIPS
RISE
SPEAR
SPIKE
SULLY
WOODY
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
UPTICKStraightforward
PROTUBERANCEModerate
TOM HANKS ROLESTricky
WORDS BEFORE "MINT"Devious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
UPTICKStraightforward
WORDS MEANING A SUDDEN INCREASE OR SURGE+ 3 more…
PROTUBERANCEModerate
RAISED LUMPY SHAPES STICKING OUT FROM A SURFACE+ 3 more…
TOM HANKS ROLESTricky
CHARACTERS PLAYED BY TOM HANKS IN FAMOUS FILMS+ 3 more…
WORDS BEFORE "MINT"Devious
THESE ALL PRECEDE A MINTY WORD TO MAKE A FAMILIAR FLAVOR OR PRODUCT+ 3 more…
Full solution
UPTICKStraightforward
HIKE,JUMP,RISE,SPIKE
HIKE, JUMP, RISE, and SPIKE all mean a sudden upward movement or increase, synonymous with 'uptick'
PROTUBERANCEModerate
BUMP,HUMP,LUMP,MOUND
BUMP, HUMP, LUMP, and MOUND are all words for a protuberance — something that bulges or sticks out
TOM HANKS ROLESTricky
GUMP,PHILLIPS,SULLY,WOODY
GUMP (Forrest Gump), PHILLIPS (Captain Phillips), SULLY (Sully), and WOODY (Toy Story) are all iconic Tom Hanks roles
WORDS BEFORE "MINT"Devious
BREATH,JUNIOR,PEPPER,SPEAR
BREATH, JUNIOR, PEPPER, and SPEAR can each precede 'MINT' to form BREATHMINT, JUNIOR MINT, PEPPERMINT, and SPEARMINT