The Sunday edition of NYT Connections arrives with puzzle #987, serving up a grid that rewards comic strip knowledge and historical references. Today's challenge particularly favors pop culture enthusiasts and those who can spot sneaky political connections.
What Makes Connections Tick
For newcomers, NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be sorted into four thematic groups of four. The twist?
You're limited to four mistakes, and the color-coded difficulty system (yellow being easiest, purple being trickiest) means surface-level connections often mislead.
Since its June 2023 launch, Connections has carved out its niche in the Times' puzzle ecosystem, standing alongside Wordle and the crossword as a daily ritual for millions of players worldwide. The game's genius lies in its red herrings, words that could fit multiple categories but belong in only one.
Today's Grid at a Glance
Here are the 16 words staring back at you in puzzle #987:
OUTCAST | SALT-AND-PEPPER | BLONDIE | TEDDY BEAR
DISTINGUISHED | BLACK SHEEP | ROUGH RIDERS | THE FAR SIDE
BULL MOOSE | BLOOM COUNTY | SILVER | PEANUTS
MISFIT | FLECKED | REJECT | BIG STICK
A seemingly random collection that somehow connects into four perfect categories.
Strategic Hints (No Spoilers Yet)
Yellow Category Nudge: Think about social outsiders and those who don't fit in with the group.
Green Category Clue: These words describe what happens to hair as people age gracefully.
Blue Category Hint: Sunday funnies enthusiasts will recognize these long-running comic strips.
Purple Category Teaser: All these terms connect to a specific U.S. president's legacy and imagery.
The Full Solutions
Last chance to solve independently: answers below
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Yellow (One Who Doesn't Fit In): BLACK SHEEP, MISFIT, OUTCAST, REJECT
This category collects synonyms for social outsiders and those who don't conform to group norms. Each term describes someone excluded or different from the mainstream.
Green (Descriptors for Graying Hair): DISTINGUISHED, FLECKED, SALT-AND-PEPPER, SILVER
These four words all describe the appearance of graying or white hair. "Salt-and-pepper" and "flecked" refer to the speckled pattern, while "silver" and "distinguished" describe the mature, elegant look.
Blue (Classic Comic Strips): BLONDIE, BLOOM COUNTY, PEANUTS, THE FAR SIDE
This category features iconic newspaper comic strips that have become cultural touchstones. Each has enjoyed decades of syndication and maintains a dedicated fanbase.
Purple (Associated with Theodore Roosevelt): BIG STICK, BULL MOOSE, ROUGH RIDERS, TEDDY BEAR
All four terms connect directly to the 26th U.S. president. "Big Stick" references his foreign policy doctrine, "Bull Moose" was his Progressive Party nickname, "Rough Riders" his volunteer cavalry unit, and "Teddy Bear" was named after him.
The Verdict
Puzzle #987 registers as moderate difficulty with a sting in the tail. Yellow falls quickly for anyone who recognizes synonym clusters, while green requires thinking about descriptive terms for aging.
Blue separates the comic strip aficionados from the casual readers. Purple, predictably, is the streak-ender, that presidential connection won't reveal itself without serious historical knowledge.
The real trap lies in "SILVER" and "DISTINGUISHED," which could easily be misdirected toward other categories. "TEDDY BEAR" also presents a surface-level connection to childhood toys that obscures its deeper historical reference.
Reset and Repeat
Tomorrow's puzzle drops at midnight in your timezone. Until then, reflect on today's performance: did you spot the comic strip connection or get tripped up by the Roosevelt references?
The beauty lies not in perfection but in training your brain to spot these hidden patterns.
For now, puzzle #987 is solved. See you at midnight for round #988.
