Need help with NYT Connections #987 for Sunday, February 22, 2026? Start with the hints below, then reveal the category names and answer groups when you are ready.
Hints for Connections #987
Try these clues before opening the full solution:
- Yellow: A teenager with few friends might feel this way; also, a social pariah.
- Green: Ways to describe George Clooney, or hair as it ages.
- Blue: Animated bits seen in newspapers.
- Purple: Connected with an American president, including a former president related to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Category reveals
- Yellow: One who doesn’t fit in
- Green: Descriptors for graying hair
- Blue: Classic comic strips
- Purple: Associated with Theodore Roosevelt
Spoiler: the full answers
The 16 tiles divide into these four groups:
| Color | Category | Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | One who doesn’t fit in | BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT |
| Green | Descriptors for graying hair | DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER |
| Blue | Classic comic strips | BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE |
| Purple | Associated with Theodore Roosevelt | BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR |
Why this board was tricky
Several tiles can suggest musical acts, especially OUTCAST, BLONDIE and SALT-AND-PEPPER, but they are not a band category in this puzzle. BLONDIE belongs with the comic strips, while TEDDY BEAR points to Theodore Roosevelt’s famous association with the toy. The outsider synonyms form a straightforward group, and the remaining terms resolve into descriptions of gray hair, newspaper comics and Roosevelt references.
Quick Recap
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