NYT Connections Hints and Answers for Monday, February 12, 2024 (#246)6 min read
Let’s dive into NYT Connections—a word puzzle game that’s capturing the attention of word and trivia enthusiasts alike. The challenge lies in grouping words by theme, testing both your knowledge and reasoning skills.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Connections will push your brainpower to the limit
What Is NYT Connections?
NYT Connections, the latest creation from The New York Times, is quickly winning over puzzle fans everywhere. The game’s premise is simple yet deceptively challenging: take 16 seemingly unrelated words and sort them into four groups, each tied to a common theme. Easy, right? Not quite. Some words are cleverly designed to mislead, fitting into multiple categories—or none at all—just to keep you on your toes.
Adding to the fun is a color-coded difficulty system. Yellow marks the easiest categories, followed by green, blue, and finally purple—the hardest of the bunch. This thoughtful progression ensures every puzzle is a mix of straightforward and head-scratching challenges, making each victory feel well-earned.
It’s a modern take on classic word games like Categories but with a clever twist. Whether you’re a wordplay wizard or just love testing your mental agility, Connections has something for everyone. Solve one puzzle, and you’ll be hooked, eagerly awaiting the next challenge!
How to Play NYT Connections
If you’re new to NYT Connections, don’t worry—it’s easy to jump in, but the real excitement comes from mastering the game. Here’s how to get started:
Understand the Rules
In NYT Connections, you’re presented with a grid of 16 words. Your task? Sort them into four groups of four, each linked by a common theme. The tricky part is that some words could fit into multiple categories, adding an element of trial and error. But be cautious—your mistakes are limited to four, so think strategically.
Pro Tip: Feeling stumped? Try shuffling the grid. A fresh arrangement can often reveal patterns you didn’t notice before.
Color-Coded Difficult
Each category is ranked by difficulty using a color systEach category in NYT Connections is ranked by difficulty using a color-coded system:
- Yellow: The easiest groups to spot—consider these your warm-up.
- Green: A bit more challenging but still straightforward.
- Blue: Things are heating up—these will test your skills.
- Purple: The toughest of the bunch. Solving these is a true accomplishment.
Pro Tip: The puzzle gets progressively harder as you go, so tackling Yellow first is a great way to build confidence and momentum.
Check out our in-depth guide on how to play Connections, packed with expert strategies to boost your skills and improve your chances of success. Read the guide here.
Today’s NYT Connections Words
The words listed below are presented in random order and do not reflect their original categories or groupings in the puzzle.
- Freeze
- Echo
- Drop
- Monkey
- Genie
- Princess
- Sailor
- Candles
- Referee
- Apollo
- Mime
- Fantastic
- Prisoner
- Samurai
- Parrot
- Lag
Hints for Today’s Connections Groups
Want a nudge toward the categories without giving them away? Try these hints and see if you can crack the code.
Yellow 🟨 – Issues During a Video Call
Green 🟩 – Outfits with Stripes
Blue 🟦 – Characters from “Aladdin”
Purple 🟪 – Titles of Movies Without Numbers
Answers for Today’s Connections Groups
Need a little extra help? No problem.
But be warned—we’re definitely stepping into spoiler territory here.
Today’s Connections Groups are…
Yellow 🟨 – Bad Things For A Video Call To Do
Green 🟩 – Costumes With Striped Shirts
Blue 🟦 – Seen In “Aladdin”
Purple 🟪 – Movies Minus Numbers
Todays Connections Answers
Spoiler alert! Ready to dive into today’s Connections answers? If not, now’s your last chance to turn back before we reveal it all.
Drumroll, please! 🥁
Today’s Connections answers are…
Yellow 🟨 – Bad Things For A Video Call To Do: Drop, Echo, Freeze, Lag
Green 🟩 – Costumes With Striped Shirts: Mime, Prisoner, Referee, Sailor
Blue 🟦 – Seen In “Aladdin”: Genie, Monkey, Parrot, Princess
Purple 🟪 – Movies Minus Numbers: Apollo, Candles, Fantastic, Samurai
Today’s Yellow Words in Connections 🟨
The theme is Bad Things For A Video Call To Do. The four words that belong together are Drop, Echo, Freeze, Lag.
Today’s Green Words in Connections 🟩
The theme is Costumes With Striped Shirts. The four words that belong together are Mime, Prisoner, Referee, Sailor.
Today’s Blue Words in Connections 🟦
The theme is Seen In “Aladdin”. The four words that belong together are Genie, Monkey, Parrot, Princess.
Today’s Purple Words in Connections 🟪
The theme is Movies Minus Numbers. The four words that belong together are Apollo, Candles, Fantastic, Samurai.
Why Connections is So Popular
Here’s why it’s a standout hit: it’s a daily challenge that’s simple to start but brilliantly tough to conquer. It’s also highly shareable—the perfect way to show off your word skills on social media. And let’s face it, everyone loves a brainteaser that leaves you feeling like a mastermind one day and scratching your head the next.
We think you’d like this: Why NYT Connections is the Most Addictive Word Game in 2025
Before we get into today’s details, here’s your spoiler alert!
If you’re here for hints, you’re in the right place—read on. If you’re just after the answers, feel free to skip ahead (no judgment, we’ve all been there). For everyone else, let’s tackle today’s puzzle together and see what it has in store!
Connections Tips for Beginners
- Start Easy: Look for obvious groups that practically shout their connection—like colors, numbers, or common trivia.
- Spot Patterns: Words that share a theme, like synonyms or items in a set, often stand out first.
- Work Backwards: Once you identify a few words that don’t seem to fit together, think about what other category they might belong to.
- Stay Cool: Don’t overthink it. Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct one.
Want to level up your skills? Check out our full list of Connections tips and tricks to master the game.
Armed with these strategies, you’ll be cracking tough categories and scaling the color-coded ladder with ease. Good luck, and happy connecting!