NYT Connections Hints, Answers – 13, 2026 (#978)

Need today’s NYT Connections answers for February 13, 2026 (#978)? Below you’ll find spoiler-free hints, full group solutions, explanations, and strategy tips to help you solve smarter.

Today’s puzzle had a clean mix of vocabulary, visual items, brands, and classic purple wordplay. The last group especially required careful listening for sound-alike words.

Puzzle date: Friday, February 13, 2026
Puzzle number: 978
Game: Connections by The New York Times
Difficulty: 3.5/5 ⭐

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Progressive Hints for Connections #978

Ranked from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple):

Color	Hint	Difficulty
🟨 Yellow	For sure	★★☆☆☆
🟩 Green	Wave it or hang it up	★★☆☆☆
🟦 Blue	Smoke ’em if you got ’em	★★★☆☆
🟪 Purple	Sounds like something shrinking	★★★★☆

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Full Answers – NYT Connections #978 (Feb 13, 2026)

🟨 Yellow – Downright

• PURE
• SHEER
• STARK
• UTTER

All four intensify a word to mean absolute or complete. Example: “utter nonsense,” “pure joy.”

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🟩 Green – Pennant

• BANNER
• COLORS
• FLAG
• STANDARD

Each word relates to a pennant — something displayed or flown to represent identity, achievement, or allegiance.

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🟦 Blue – Cigarette Brands

• CAMEL
• KENT
• PARLIAMENT
• SALEM

Recognizable cigarette brand names formed this category. Many players grouped these quickly once one brand was spotted.

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🟪 Purple – Homophones of Ways to Get Smaller

• LESSON (sounds like lessen)
• RESEED (sounds like recede)
• SYNC (sounds like sink)
• WAYNE (sounds like wane)

This was the trickiest set. The puzzle required recognizing that each word sounds like a verb meaning “to decrease.” Saying them aloud makes the pattern clearer.

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Quick One-Word Hints

• Yellow → Absolute
• Green → Flag
• Blue → Tobacco
• Purple → Shrink (sound-alikes)

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Why Today’s Puzzle Was Tricky

• Yellow was straightforward vocabulary.
• Green had overlap potential with “standard” (which can mean average).
• Blue required brand recognition.
• Purple demanded phonetic thinking — always a classic Connections twist.

If you struggled, try this strategy: lock in obvious vocabulary groups first (PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER), then scan for recognizable brand clusters. Leave sound-based categories for last.

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FAQ – NYT Connections February 13, 2026 (#978)

Q: What are the answers for NYT Connections #978?
🟨 Downright: PURE, SHEER, STARK, UTTER
🟩 Pennant: BANNER, COLORS, FLAG, STANDARD
🟦 Cigarette Brands: CAMEL, KENT, PARLIAMENT, SALEM
🟪 Homophones of ways to get smaller: LESSON, RESEED, SYNC, WAYNE

Q: What was the hardest category today?
Most players found the purple homophones category toughest due to the sound-based trick.

Q: How many mistakes are allowed in Connections?
You get four incorrect guesses before the game ends.

Q: Where can I play NYT Connections?
You can play daily on The New York Times Games section via web or app.

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