Issue #1039 Mon 16 Feb
Connections hints — February 16, 2026
A steady, methodical grid that rewards patience. The layout keeps the wordplay and linguistic traps fairly balanced, making for a morning of manageable sorting.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
The theater crowd during a particularly sharp bit of physical comedy, or the absolute state of a dinner party that has gone entirely off the rails.
Expressions of intense amusement
Synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters H, L, R, S.
KNEE-SLAPPER
One is HOOT.
HOOT · LAUGH · RIOT · SCREAM
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The kitchen counter where you measure out dry ingredients, or the small, soft animal standing at the edge of the woods.
Phonetic-reduction wordplay
Homophones of a single set
Members are 2–5 letters; first letters D.
HOMOPHONES
One is DO.
DO · DOE · DOH · DOUGH
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
Look at a rooster. Look closely.
Avian vocalizations
Onomatopoeic synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters B, C, S.
SOUNDS A CHICKEN MAKES
One is BUCK.
BUCK · CACKLE · CLUCK · SQUAWK
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
Whatever you set the night before is what gets you up — for better or worse.
Physiological reactions
Synonyms
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters F.
STRESS RESPONSES
One is FAWN.
FAWN · FIGHT · FLIGHT · FREEZE