Honestly, some days Wyna Liu just wants to see us suffer. If you opened the grid today and felt like your brain was short-circuiting between a baseball glove and a magic wand, you aren't alone. The NYT Connections hints February 21 puzzle is a masterclass in what I like to call "The Multi-Tool Menace." It’s one of those boards where half the words feel like they could belong to three different groups, and the other half feel like they don't belong anywhere on this planet.
Connections isn't just about knowing words. It’s about resisting the urge to click the first four "obvious" things you see. Today, that's easier said than done.
What’s Tripping Everyone Up?
The board for game #621 is a minefield. You’ve got words like PICK and SOLUTION and LASSO. At first glance, your brain might try to group things related to "choosing" or maybe "Western movies." Don't do it.
The real danger in the NYT Connections hints February 21 set is the overlap between the Blue and Purple categories. One involves digital tools, and the other involves physical objects. The problem? Most of the digital tools are named after physical objects. It’s a classic NYT head-fake.
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The Word List
If you haven't seen the board yet, here is the lineup:
- ANSWER
- BASEBALL GLOVE
- CAN OPENER
- ERASER
- EYEDROPPER
- FIX
- GATHER
- GOLF CLUB
- GUITAR
- HARVEST
- LASSO
- MAGIC WAND
- PICK
- REAP
- REMEDY
- SOLUTION
Hints for Each Category
Sometimes you just need a nudge, not the whole answer. If you want to keep your streak alive without feeling like you cheated, try these on for size.
Yellow Hint: Think about what you look for when something goes wrong. If you’re at work and a client is screaming, what are you trying to provide? These are synonyms for "fixing it."
Green Hint: This one is earthy. Imagine you're standing in the middle of a row of apple trees in October. What are the verbs for what you’re doing?
Blue Hint: You’ll only get this quickly if you’ve ever spent too much time editing photos. Think of the toolbar on the left side of a creative software suite (rhymes with "Photo Shop").
Purple Hint: This is the "Aha!" category. It’s not about what these things are, but how they are made. If you’re a "lefty," you usually have to buy a special version of these four things.
Breaking Down the Solutions
The Yellow Group: Way of Solving a Problem
This is the most straightforward group, but even here, they try to distract you.
- ANSWER
- FIX
- REMEDY
- SOLUTION
You might have tried to put PICK in here (as in "picking a solution"), but that's a red herring. These four are pure synonyms.
The Green Group: Collect, As from an Orchard
If you’ve ever worked on a farm or played Stardew Valley, this should be your second pick.
- GATHER
- HARVEST
- PICK
- REAP
Notice how PICK finally finds its home here? That's why you wait. If you’d used it in the yellow group, you’d be staring at a "One Away" message and losing your mind.
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The Blue Group: Photoshop Tools
This is where the digital meets the physical.
- ERASER
- EYEDROPPER
- LASSO
- MAGIC WAND
The MAGIC WAND is the one that usually breaks people. It sounds like it should be in a "Fantasy" category with a dragon or something. In the context of the NYT Connections hints February 21 puzzle, it’s just that annoying tool that never selects quite what you want it to.
The Purple Group: Objects That May Be Right- or Left-Handed
The "Stumper." The one that makes you want to throw your phone across the room.
- BASEBALL GLOVE
- CAN OPENER
- GOLF CLUB
- GUITAR
Basically, if you're left-handed, these items are the bane of your existence. You can't just pick up a standard version and have a good time. A "righty" can opener is nearly impossible to use with your left hand.
Strategies for Tomorrow
If today's puzzle beat you, don't sweat it. Connections is a game of patience. Here is how to handle the next one:
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- Shuffle is your best friend. The NYT editors specifically place words next to each other to trick your brain into seeing a connection that isn't there (like putting MAGIC WAND next to GUITAR). Hit that shuffle button immediately.
- Find the "Singletons." Look for a word that can only mean one thing. EYEDROPPER is a great example from today. It’s either for medicine or for digital art. It’s not a common verb. Start there and build out.
- The "Say It Out Loud" Rule. Sometimes words share a prefix or a suffix. Say them with "Box" or "Apple" after them. It doesn't apply today, but it’s a lifesaver for those tricky Purple categories.
Check the board one more time. Did you see the Photoshop connection? Once you see it, it’s obvious, but when those words are scrambled, they look like a random junk drawer. That’s the beauty of the game.
To keep improving, try to identify at least two full groups before you hit "Submit." This prevents you from wasting your four precious mistakes on "close enough" guesses that ruin your daily stats.