Struggling with the NYT Connections puzzle for February 16? This guide offers targeted hints to reveal the hidden themes among the 16 words. Progressive clues lead to the groups and full solutions without spoilers upfront.
How to Play Connections
Connections challenges players to sort 16 daily words into four groups sharing a common theme. Examples include characters from Peter Pan like Hook, Nana, Peter, and Wendy, or words preceding “Figure” such as Action, Ballpark, Go, and Stick. Themes range from straightforward to deceptive, with colors indicating difficulty: Yellow (easiest), Green (easy), Blue (medium), and Purple (hardest). Success requires identifying all four groups with fewer than four errors.
February 16 Connections Words
The 16 words in today’s puzzle are: BUCK, CACKLE, CLUCK, DO, DOE, DOH, DOUGH, FAWN, FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE, HOOT, LAUGH, RIOT, SCREAM, SQUAWK.
Key Hints for Today’s Puzzle
Yellow: It’s funny.
Green: Focus on the sound.
Blue: As heard on a farm.
Purple: They’re related to panic.
Extra Clue 1: Group words starting with the same letter.
Extra Clue 2: “Cackle” and “laugh” form different groups.
One Word Per Group
- Yellow: Scream
- Green: Dough
- Blue: Cackle
- Purple: Flight
Today’s Connections Groups
Yellow: Knee Slapper
Green: Homophones
Blue: Sounds A Chicken Makes
Purple: Stress Responses
Complete February 16 Answers
Yellow (Knee Slapper): Hoot, Laugh, Riot, Scream
Green (Homophones): Do, Doe, Doh, Dough
Blue (Sounds A Chicken Makes): Buck, Cackle, Cluck, Squawk
Purple (Stress Responses): Fawn, Fight, Flight, Freeze
The homophones stand out quickly, while chicken sounds and stress responses add clever misdirection. A fresh Connections puzzle appears daily at midnight.
