NYT Connections Today, Monday February 9: Hints, Clues & Answers (Game #974)

NYT Connections 09 February, 2026: NYT Connections has rapidly climbed the ranks to become one of the New York Times most widely engaged daily word games, boasting millions of daily solvers. On February 9, #974 of the publication’s puzzles awaited gamers with 16 seemingly disjointed words and naturally, the first step is not about vocabulary, but as in all NYT games, finding the pattern.

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word-grouping game from the New York Times. You are presented with 16 words and you must separate them into four groups of four, each set with its common link. Every group conceals its own theme and difficulty range from easy to intentionally tricky.

How to Play NYT Connections

• Review all 16 words before making any selection
• Group four words that share a common idea or usage
• Submit one group at a time
• You are allowed up to four incorrect guesses
• Color coding indicates difficulty, from easiest to hardest

Today’s Connections Words for 9 February (Monday)

• APPROACH
• BONUS
• POKER
• NEEDLE
• STRAWS
• LOOM
• STYLE
• ADVANCE
• NEAR
• WAY
• SCISSORS
• FEE
• ROYALTY
• YARN
• MANNER
• THE LINE

Today’s Connections Hints for 9 February (Monday)

• Yellow: Items associated with textile work
• Green: Words describing how something is done
• Blue: Ways authors earn income
• Purple: Phrases that follow the word “draw”

NYT Connections Answers for 9 February (#974)

• Yellow – Used in Weaving:
• LOOM, NEEDLE, SCISSORS, YARN
• Green – Method:
• APPROACH, MANNER, STYLE, WAY
• Blue – Kinds of Payment for an Author:
• ADVANCE, BONUS, FEE, ROYALTY
• Purple – Draw:
• NEAR, POKER, STRAWS, THE LINE

This puzzle leaned heavily on common phrases, rewarding players who resisted literal meanings and focused on context.

FAQ’s NYT Connections

1. How many players attempt the puzzle daily?
   The NYT reports millions of daily plays across its games platform.
2. Is Connections harder than Wordle?
   Many players say yes, because it relies more on interpretation than spelling.
3. Can you play for free?
   Yes, it is available free on the NYT Games website and app.
4. Do difficulty colors matter?
   They indicate how tricky a category is, with purple usually being the hardest.
5. Is there a strategy to win consistently?
   Eliminating obvious groupings early often makes the final set easier.
6. What does the word Poker means
   Poker refers to a card game where players bet based on the strength of their hands and more broadly means a tool or action used to prod, stir or provoke something.