NYT Connections Today, Thursday February 19: Hints, Clues & Answers (Game #984)

NYT Connections 19 February, 2026: Word puzzle enthusiasts continue to flock to The New York Times’ popular Connections puzzle, which now attracts millions of players each week. Puzzle #984 for Thursday, February 19, is an interesting mix of popular culture, wordplay, and seasonal themes, keeping readers on their toes until the last category fits neatly into place.

What Is NYT Connections?

Connections is a word association puzzle, and it’s played daily and presented with 16 words and the challenge is to group the words into four groups of four with the groups having something in common with one another. Each group is color-coded by difficulty, ranging from yellow, which is the easiest, through to purple, which is the hardest. You are allowed four mistakes and then the game is over, which gives the game an element of strategy as well.

How to Play NYT Connections

• Review all 16 words before making a move
• Identify four words that share a common theme
• Submit the group to check if it’s correct
• Avoid more than four incorrect attempts
• Solve all four categories to win the puzzle

Today’s Connections Words for 19 February (Thursday)

• PEEPS
• POKER
• DISCO
• STU
• SHOVEL
• BRAYS
• BASKET
• BELLOWS
• BOYLE
• JOHN TRAVOLTA
• TONGS
• DYE
• PLATFORM SHOES
• EGGS
• SEER
• POLYESTER SUIT

Today’s Connections Hints for 19 February (Thursday)

• Yellow group: Items linked to a spring holiday
• Green group: Tools used near a hearth
• Blue group: Associated with a famous 1970s dance film
• Purple group: Words that sound like cooking methods

NYT Connections Answers for 19 February (#984)

• Yellow: Easter supplies: BASKET, DYE, EGGS, PEEPS
• Green: Fireplace accessories: BELLOWS, POKER, SHOVEL, TONGS
• Blue: Elements of Saturday Night Fever: DISCO, JOHN TRAVOLTA, PLATFORM SHOES, POLYESTER SUIT
• Purple: Homophones of cooking methods: BOYLE, BRAYS, SEER, STU

Top Tips & Strategies for Solving NYT Connections

• Start with obvious and tightly linked categories
• Watch for idioms or fill-in-the-blank phrases
• Be cautious of red herrings or overlapping themes
• Reinterpret words with multiple meanings
• Use “one away” alerts to reassess carefully
• Leave tougher categories for later
• Write possible groupings on paper if stuck

FAQs

1. How many mistakes are allowed?
Players can make up to four incorrect guesses before the game ends.

2. Is Connections harder than Wordle?
Many players find it more challenging due to layered word meanings.

3. Are categories ranked by difficulty?
Yes, yellow is easiest while purple is usually the trickiest.

4. Does the puzzle reset daily?
Yes, a new puzzle is released each day at midnight local time.

5. Can you replay older puzzles?
Archived puzzles may be available through NYT Games subscriptions.