Connections Hints
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Words from the NYT Connections puzzle — February 21, 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.
ABSENT
AUDITS
BACKGROUND
DODGERS
EXCUSED
GREAT
HISTORY
INFINITIVE
LATE
LIFE
MINION
PAST
PERFECT
PHEW
PRESENT
SOLID
Themes
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
EXPERIENCEStraightforward
ATTENDANCE STATUSModerate
COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTSTricky
CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERSDevious
One word per group
Theme name plus one word from each category.
EXPERIENCEStraightforward
WORDS THAT DESCRIBE WHAT SOMEONE HAS LIVED THROUGH OR DONE BEFORE+ 3 more…
ATTENDANCE STATUSModerate
WORDS A TEACHER MIGHT MARK IN A ROLL CALL+ 3 more…
COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTSTricky
THINGS YOU MIGHT SAY (OR THINK) AFTER FINISHING TODAY'S CONNECTIONS PUZZLE+ 3 more…
CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERSDevious
EACH WORD HIDES A CAR MANUFACTURER WITH TWO EXTRA LETTERS ATTACHED+ 3 more…
Full solution
EXPERIENCEStraightforward
BACKGROUND,HISTORY,LIFE,PAST
BACKGROUND, HISTORY, LIFE, and PAST all refer to one's accumulated experience or prior record.
ATTENDANCE STATUSModerate
ABSENT,EXCUSED,LATE,PRESENT
ABSENT, EXCUSED, LATE, and PRESENT are all statuses used when taking attendance in a classroom.
COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTSTricky
GREAT,PERFECT,PHEW,SOLID
GREAT, PERFECT, PHEW, and SOLID are all reactions or comments someone might make about their Connections results.
CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERSDevious
AUDITS,DODGERS,INFINITIVE,MINION
AUDITS contains AUDI, DODGERS contains DODGE, INFINITIVE contains INFINITI, and MINION contains MINI — each word is a car brand plus two extra letters.