Stuck on today’s NYT Connections? Puzzle #979 brings a satisfying mix of upward momentum, physical shapes, Hollywood roles, and a clever word-combination twist.
If yesterday’s board leaned heavily on homophones and wordplay, today’s puzzle feels more concrete until Purple sneaks in with a compound-word surprise.
Below, you’ll find spoiler-free NYT Connections hints for today to nudge you in the right direction, followed by the full solution and category breakdown. You can also try our Today’s Strands Answers and the latest Wordle guide to keep the momentum going.
Today’s NYT Connections Puzzle Info
- Puzzle# 979
- Date: February 14, 2026
Today’s puzzle revolves around:
- Words meaning an increase
- Raised shapes or protrusions
- Famous Tom Hanks characters
- Words that commonly come before “Mint”
NYT Connections Today (#979) Word List
Before we get to the hints, Here are the 16 words from today’s puzzle:
- HIKE
- JUMP
- RISE
- SPIKE
- BUMP
- HUMP
- LUMP
- MOUND
- GUMP
- PHILLIPS
- SULLY
- WOODY
- BREATH
- JUNIOR
- PEPPER
- SPEAR
NYT Connections Hints for Today (Spoiler-Free)
If you want to solve it yourself but just need a little push, here are the themes for today’s four groups, ranked from easiest (Yellow) to hardest (Purple):
- Yellow: Words meaning an increase
- Green: Raised physical formations
- Blue: Characters played by Tom Hanks
- Purple: Words that commonly precede “Mint”
Now take your time and go to NYT Connections to give it a try before looking at the answers below.
Today’s NYT Connections Answers (#979)
Warning: Full spoilers for today’s NYT Connections puzzle follow below.
If you are ready to see the solution, here are the four connected groups and their answers:
Yellow: UPTICK
- HIKE
- JUMP
- RISE
- SPIKE
All four words describe an increase or upward movement whether it’s prices, numbers, or activity levels.
Green: PROTUBERANCE
- BUMP
- HUMP
- LUMP
- MOUND
Each of these refers to a raised or rounded formation something that sticks out from a surface.
Blue: TOM HANKS ROLES
- GUMP (Forrest Gump)
- PHILLIPS (Captain Phillips)
- SULLY (Sully)
- WOODY (Toy Story)
This category celebrates some of Tom Hanks’ most recognizable characters across film history.
Purple: WORDS BEFORE “MINT”
- BREATH (Breath mint)
- JUNIOR (Junior Mint)
- PEPPER (Peppermint)
- SPEAR (Spearmint)
This was today’s trickiest category. Individually, these words don’t seem related but once you add “Mint,” the connection becomes clear.
How I Solved Today’s Connection Game
- The upward movement words (HIKE, JUMP, RISE, SPIKE) were the easiest to group that felt like a classic Yellow category.
- Next, BUMP and LUMP looked connected. Once HUMP and MOUND fit, the physical formation theme was clear.
- The Tom Hanks roles stood out once I spotted GUMP and WOODY. That quickly led to PHILLIPS and SULLY.
- That left BREATH, JUNIOR, PEPPER, and SPEAR — which felt random at first. Saying “Peppermint” out loud unlocked the Purple category instantly.
Yesterday’s Connections Answers (#978)
In case you missed yesterday’s NYT Connections puzzle (Feb 13), here is how the groups broke down:
- Yellow (DOWNRIGHT): PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER
- Green (PENNANT): BANNER, COLORS, FLAG, STANDARD
- Blue (CIGARETTE BRANDS): CAMEL, KENT, PARLIAMENT, SALEM
- Purple (HOMOPHONES OF WAYS TO GET SMALLER): LESSON, RESEED, SYNC, WAYNE
How to Play NYT Connections
- The Goal: Sort the 16 words into four groups of four.
- The Groups: Each group shares a common theme.
- The Difficulty: Categories are color-coded: Yellow (Easiest), Green, Blue, and Purple (Hardest).
- Mistakes: You have 4 chances. If you make 4 mistakes, the game reveals the answers.
If you want more help then check out the detailed guide on how to play NYT Connections.
FAQs – NYT Connections
What is hardest group in today’s NYT Connections?
The Purple category (words before “Mint”) was the trickiest because the connection isn’t obvious until you form compound words.
How many mistakes do you get in NYT Connections?
You can make up to four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends and the remaining groups are revealed.
Where can I play NYT Connections?
You can play directly on the NYT Games website or in the official mobile app.
What are today’s NYT Connections answers about?
Today’s puzzle includes words for an increase, physical protrusions, iconic Tom Hanks characters, and compound words formed with “Mint.”
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