Waking up and staring at a grid of sixteen words can feel like a personal attack. Honestly, the NYT Connections hints February 28 puzzle is one of those that makes you second-guess your entire vocabulary before you've even had coffee. You see "Waffle" and think breakfast. You see "Egg" and think breakfast. Suddenly, you're looking for bacon and syrup, but the New York Times isn't interested in your morning cravings today. It's a trap.
The beauty (and frustration) of Connections is the "red herring." Today’s puzzle is particularly brutal with them. Wyna Liu, the associate puzzle editor at the NYT, has a knack for finding words that belong in three different places but only fit in one. If you're feeling stuck, don't worry. It's not just you.
What’s Tripping Everyone Up Today?
Usually, the yellow category is a layup. Today? It’s a bit of a curveball because the words aren't just synonyms; they're actions. If you're looking for the NYT Connections hints February 28 secret, start by looking for verbs that describe someone being annoyingly indecisive.
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Think about that friend who can never pick a restaurant. They don't just "wait." They do something more... rhythmic.
The "Breakfast" Fake-out
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. Egg and Waffle. It's so tempting to put them together. Throw in Peach and maybe you think you've got a food group. You don't. In fact, if you've already burned a guess on food, stop. The "Peach" is actually a person—or rather, a way to describe one.
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The Metaphorical Nightmare
The purple category today is objectively mean. It's one of those "fill in the blank" or "part of a phrase" categories that requires you to step back and think about common idioms. Specifically, things you can't undo. Once a bell is rung, can you unring it? That’s the vibe we’re going for here.
Hints for the February 28 Groups
If you want a nudge without the full spoilers, here is how the difficulty breaks down for the NYT Connections hints February 28 grid:
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- Yellow (Easiest): This is all about not being able to make a choice. If you’re shifting back and forth, you’re doing these four things.
- Green (Easyish): These are sweet things you might call your partner or a very nice child. Think "old-timey" terms of endearment.
- Blue (Medium): This one is about your "smarts." If you've lost these, you're probably not having a very clear-headed day.
- Purple (Tricky): These are items from very specific metaphors about things that are permanent. Once they're out of the "container," they aren't going back.
Today’s Connections Groups and Answers
Okay, if you're ready for the full reveal because that one last word is driving you crazy, here is the breakdown for the NYT Connections hints February 28 puzzle.
Yellow: Be Indecisive
- HESITATE
- WAFFLE
- WAVER
- YO-YO
Why it works: All of these describe the act of going back and forth on a decision. "Waffle" is the big distractor here because of its food association.
Green: Lovely Person
- ANGEL
- DEAR
- DOLL
- PEACH
Why it works: These are classic terms of endearment. While "Peach" and "Angel" could be other things, when you see "Dear" and "Doll," the pattern for a "sweetheart" theme becomes obvious.
Blue: Lucidity
- MARBLES
- MIND
- SENSE
- WITS
Why it works: These are all synonyms for mental clarity or sanity. Usually, you "lose" your marbles or "keep" your wits about you.
Purple: Components Of Metaphors For Things That Can't Be Undone
- BELL
- EGG
- GENIE
- TOOTHPASTE
Why it works: This is the "hard" category for a reason. It refers to the phrases: Unring the bell, Break an egg (for an omelet), Genie out of the bottle, and Toothpaste back in the tube. All represent irreversible actions.
How to Get Better at Connections
If today’s NYT Connections hints February 28 guide saved your streak, you might want to adjust your strategy for tomorrow.
- Don't click immediately. Spend at least 60 seconds just looking. Your brain will automatically group "Egg" and "Waffle." Force yourself to find a second possibility for those words before you commit.
- Say them out loud. Sometimes hearing the word helps you realize it's a verb and not a noun. "Waver" and "Waffle" sound like actions when spoken.
- The "One Away" Trap. If the game tells you that you are "one away," don't just swap one word randomly. Look at the other twelve words left. Is there a word in another group that fits the theme better?
- Use the Shuffle. It sounds basic, but the NYT designers intentionally place "Egg" next to "Waffle" to mess with your head. Shuffling the board breaks those visual associations.
Connections is as much a game of psychology as it is a game of vocabulary. They want you to see the obvious connection so you miss the subtle one. Tomorrow, try to find the "hidden" meaning of the most common word on the board first.
Next Steps for Your Streak:
Go back to the grid and look at the "Purple" words again. Try to use them in a sentence with their metaphors. This helps "lock in" the logic for future puzzles, as the NYT loves to reuse these types of metaphorical structures. Once you've finished, maybe try today's Strands or Wordle to keep the brain gears turning.