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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThe Friday, February 27, 2026, New York Times Connections puzzle is game #992. Below are the four clues first, followed by the complete categories and all 16 answers. Stop after the hint section if you want to solve it without spoilers.
Puzzle #992 at a glance
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. The groups are color-coded in the game, and the puzzle is available through NYTimes.com and the NYT Games app, as well as the Athletic and NYT News apps. The official NYT Help Center says eligible All Access and Games subscribers can also play an archive reaching back to June 12, 2023.
Hints for February 27
Use these clues from least revealing to most revealing:
- Like a double agent.
- Ambiance that surrounds you.
- Ripple is another word that could be in this category.
- Freedom of the ____.
Each clue points to a different group. The fourth hint indicates a missing word that can follow each answer in that set.
#1 Best Overall
Answers and completed categories
Spoiler warning: The table below reveals the complete solution.
| Category | Words | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| BACKSTABBER | JUDAS, SNAKE, TRAITOR, TURNCOAT | Each is a noun for someone who betrays an ally or changes sides. |
| AURA | AIR, IMPRESSION, MANNER, QUALITY | Each can describe the atmosphere or overall character surrounding a person or thing. |
| Kinds of CHAIN REACTION “EFFECTS” | BUTTERFLY, DOMINO, RIPPLE, SNOWBALL | Each forms a familiar phrase describing a cascading consequence: butterfly effect, domino effect, ripple effect and snowball effect. |
| ___PRESS | BENCH, DRILL, FRENCH, PRINTING | Each combines with “press”: bench press, drill press, French press and printing press. |
BACKSTABBER
This is the betrayal-themed group. “Judas” and “turncoat” identify a betrayer directly, while “snake” and “traitor” are common labels for the same behavior.
Rank #2
AURA
Here, “air,” “impression,” “manner” and “quality” work as words for a surrounding feel, tone or distinctive character.
Kinds of CHAIN REACTION “EFFECTS”
The category depends on the shared word effect. The four terms describe consequences that spread, build or multiply from an initial event.
___PRESS
The final group is a word-combination test: adding “press” after each entry produces a recognized exercise, tool, beverage-making method or printing term.
Quick Recap
How to use the hints without spoiling the puzzle
- Read only the four clues and scan the board for a likely group.
- Mark a tentative set of four, then check whether every word matches the same idea rather than just two or three.
- Use the category wording to resolve traps: a word may fit more than one apparent theme, but only one complete grouping works.
- Reveal the answer table only after you have submitted a guess or want to verify your result.
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