NYT Connections Today, Wednesday February 18: Hints, Clues & Answers (Game #983)

NYT Connections 18 February, 2026: Word puzzle enthusiasts have been drawn to the daily brain teaser of NYT Connections, which has quickly gained a devoted fan base with millions of people playing word games from the New York Times daily, the Connections puzzle stands out for its complex logic and wordplay. The Wednesday, February 18, edition of the puzzle, #983, challenges players to sort the given 16 words into four categories with no more than four incorrect answers.

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is a daily word association puzzle offered by the New York Times Games portfolio. The objective is to locate four sets of four words, each with a connection to the other words within the same set. The groups are color-coded depending on their difficulty level, ranging from yellow for the easiest, green for moderate, blue for more challenging, to purple for the hardest unlike Wordle, which is all about guessing a word, NYT Connections requires players to organize, utilize their vast vocabulary and recognize patterns.

How to Play NYT Connections

• You are given 16 words in a grid.
• Your goal is to sort them into four groups of four.
• Each group shares a common theme or connection.
• Select four words and submit your guess.
• You can make up to four incorrect attempts.
• Difficulty increases from yellow to purple categories.
• If three groups are correct, the last one is solved automatically.

Today’s Connections Words for 18 February (Wednesday)

• HEAVY
• CRESTED
• BAD
• FEATHER
• FLY
• TEASE
• BANTAM
• TOPICAL
• CURL
• SOUR
• WICKED
• LEGHORN
• SHAVING
• CRIMP
• FREE-RANGE
• RAD

Today’s Connections Hints for 18 February (Wednesday)

• Yellow: Think vintage hairstyling instructions.
• Green: Classic slang once used to mean “cool.”
• Blue: Terms associated with types of chickens.
• Purple: Commonly paired with the word “cream.”

NYT Connections Answers for 18 February (#983)

• Yellow – Retro Hair Directives: CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE
• Green – Retro Slang for Cool: BAD, FLY, RAD, WICKED
• Blue – Chicken Descriptors: BANTAM, CRESTED, FREE-RANGE, LEGHORN
• Purple – Cream: HEAVY, SHAVING, SOUR, TOPICAL

Today’s puzzle blended pop culture references with culinary and agricultural terms, making the purple category particularly tricky. The retro slang grouping may have felt nostalgic, while the chicken descriptors required close attention to detail.

FAQs: NYT Connections

1. Is NYT Connections free to play?
Yes, it is available daily on the NYT Games website.

2. How many mistakes are allowed?
Players can make up to four incorrect guesses.

3. What do the colors mean?
Yellow is easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple as the hardest.

4. Is there only one solution per day?
Yes, each puzzle has one correct grouping.

5. What skills help in solving Connections?
Strong vocabulary, pattern recognition, and lateral thinking improve success rates.