NYT Connections puzzle #987 for Sunday, February 22, 2026, groups its 16 words into one who doesn’t fit in, descriptors for graying hair, classic comic strips, and things associated with Theodore Roosevelt. Hints come first, followed by the full answer grid and explanations.
NYT Connections for Sunday, February 22, 2026, is puzzle #987. The four groups are one who does not fit in, descriptors for graying hair, classic comic strips, and things associated with Theodore Roosevelt.
Because Connections resets at midnight in each player’s time zone, use the absolute date—February 22, 2026—when checking this answer rather than relying only on “today.”
NYT Connections hints for February 22, 2026
Here are the clues from least revealing to most revealing:
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- Yellow: Words for someone who does not belong in a group.
- Green: Words that can describe hair turning gray.
- Blue: Familiar newspaper comic strips.
- Purple: Think of America’s 26th president.
Need more help? The complete solution is below. Stop reading here if you still want to solve the puzzle without spoilers.
Spoiler warning: The full NYT Connections answers for February 22, 2026, appear below.
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NYT Connections answers for February 22, 2026
| Category | Answers |
|---|---|
| One who doesn’t fit in | BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT |
| Descriptors for graying hair | DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER |
| Classic comic strips | BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE |
| Associated with Theodore Roosevelt | BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR |
Explanation of the four Connections groups
One who doesn’t fit in: BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT
Each word describes a person who is excluded, viewed as different, or not accepted by a group. “Black sheep” is the idiomatic expression, while misfit, outcast, and reject describe people who do not conform or belong.
Descriptors for graying hair: DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER
These words can describe hair that is partly or mostly gray. Salt-and-pepper refers to a mixture of dark and gray hair, flecked suggests scattered gray strands, and silver describes predominantly gray or white hair. Distinguished is the more figurative description, often suggesting that gray hair gives someone a dignified appearance.
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Classic comic strips: BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE
Blondie, Bloom County, Peanuts, and The Far Side are titles of well-known newspaper comic strips.
Answer-checking note: Some published archives list SHOE instead of PEANUTS in this group. Other cross-checked guides list PEANUTS, and the answer set above uses PEANUTS provisionally because it is the better-supported result in the available records. If you need archival certainty, compare the tile list with the original NYT puzzle record.
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Associated with Theodore Roosevelt: BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR
Big Stick refers to Roosevelt’s famous foreign-policy formulation. Bull Moose is associated with the Progressive political movement and Roosevelt’s 1912 campaign. The Rough Riders were the volunteer cavalry unit that helped make him a national hero during the Spanish-American War, while the teddy bear takes its popular name from the president.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The complete tile list
The 16 tiles reported for this puzzle are:
OUTCAST, SALT-AND-PEPPER, BLONDIE, TEDDY BEAR, DISTINGUISHED, BLACK SHEEP, ROUGH RIDERS, THE FAR SIDE, BULL MOOSE, BLOOM COUNTY, SILVER, PEANUTS, MISFIT, FLECKED, REJECT, and BIG STICK.
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Want more Connections puzzles?
For readers who prefer solving away from a screen, the official New York Times Connections puzzle book puts the category-matching format into a physical, lay-flat book. It is a separate collection of puzzles; do not assume that this February 22 puzzle appears in the book unless the publisher or retailer confirms it.
Readers looking for ongoing access can also check the official play Connections on NYT Games service and its current access terms. Subscription availability and commercial eligibility can vary by location and can change over time.
Check back for the next dated NYT Connections hints and answers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some answer guides list SHOE instead of PEANUTS?
The reported answer is PEANUTS, but some archives show SHOE. The available cross-checked guides more consistently support PEANUTS, although the original NYT puzzle record should be used for definitive archival verification.
What Connections puzzle number is February 22, 2026?
The February 22, 2026, puzzle is #987. Connections resets at midnight in each player’s time zone, so the puzzle may appear under a different calendar date if you are checking across time zones.
The Bottom Line
The February 22, 2026, NYT Connections groups are BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT; DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER; BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE; and BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR.
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