Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #998 hints and answers for Thursday, March 5, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #998 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

BITS OF HARDWARE

BOLT · NUT · SCREW · WASHER

Group 2 - Green

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

PLACES WHERE IDEAS ARE DEVELOPED

INCUBATOR · LAB · SANDBOX · TEST BED

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: These four belong together for one clean reason. If two of them pair up in your head first, let the other two confirm it.

GO BACK AND FORTH

ALTERNATE · SEESAW · SWITCH · TOGGLE

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

WHAT "SUB" MIGHT REFER TO

BELOW · HERO · REPLACEMENT · SUBMARINE

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "That's it?"