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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Spoilers ahead: The four groups in NYT Connections puzzle #990 are CARE FOR, ELEMENTARY, JAMESES, and ENDING IN FAMILY WORDS. Read on for all 16 answers and how each group works.
What are the answers for NYT Connections #990?
The puzzle dated Wednesday, February 25, 2026, groups its tiles as follows:
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | CARE FOR | BABY, FOSTER, MOTHER, NURSE |
| Green | ELEMENTARY | BASIC, KEY, PRIMARY, PRINCIPAL |
| Blue | JAMESES | BROWN, COOK, DEAN, HARDEN |
| Purple | ENDING IN FAMILY WORDS | ALKALINE, DECLAN, DIATRIBE, NAPKIN |
Why the groups fit
Yellow: CARE FOR
BABY, FOSTER, MOTHER, and NURSE can all describe nurturing or looking after someone. BABY and MOTHER work as verbs in this sense, which makes the connection less obvious if you first read every tile only as a noun.
Green: ELEMENTARY
BASIC, KEY, PRIMARY, and PRINCIPAL can each mean fundamental or foundational. PRINCIPAL and DEAN may suggest school administrators when considered together, but DEAN belongs in the blue group instead.
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Blue: JAMESES
Each tile is the surname of a well-known James: James Brown, James Cook, James Dean, and James Harden.
Purple: ENDING IN FAMILY WORDS
Look at the final letters of each complete tile rather than searching for four synonyms. ALKALINE ends in LINE, DECLAN in CLAN, DIATRIBE in TRIBE, and NAPKIN in KIN. Each ending is also a word associated with family or kinship.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Connections works
Connections presents 16 words and asks players to sort them into four groups of four that share a connection. The New York Times Help Center explains that each puzzle has exactly one solution and is designed to be tricky because words can appear to fit multiple categories. Groups are color-coded from yellow, the easiest, to purple, the trickiest. The game releases daily at midnight in the player’s time zone; the NYT lists free play on its digital platforms and archive access for eligible All Access and Games subscribers. See the NYT Connections help page.
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