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NYT Connections February 18 blends retro hairstyles, vintage slang, chicken terms, and clever ‘cream’ phrases into a playful challenge.
Today’s NYT Connections puzzle mixes nostalgia, poultry descriptors, and word pairings for a balanced yet tricky solve.
From ‘rad’ slang to ‘___ cream’ combinations, the February 18 grid rewards sharp observation and creative thinking.
NYT Connections February 18 grid is live with four new themes and 16 connected words. Initially, Connections presents words that look completely random, but the task is to find the hidden links between these words. With a profound observation, these words reveal that four of these words share a common link, forming four sets of four words. The twist here is that some of these words may fit more than one theme.
The world of word puzzles is massive, but hardly any others compete with the puzzles that The New York Times presents. Whether it's NYT Strands, NYT Connections, or Wordle, each of these web-based word puzzles has its specific word-guessing method. In NYT Connections, the theme isn’t stated initially, but once players guess the right sets, the game reveals the themes:
This puzzle is tricky, but some clues may make things easier for gamers. Here are some hints to help players solve today’s puzzle. Let's start with the hints category-wise:
Easiest Group (Yellow): Today’s yellow group words refer to different hairstyles.
Moderate Group (Green): The green group consists of words related to retro slang.
Challenging Group (Blue): The blue group words are associated with a poultry firm.
Most Difficult Group (Purple): Finally, the purple category words are related to Cream.
If you are still a bit confused about the themes of today’s puzzle, below are the one-word hints. From every category, one word is listed below:
CRIMP
FLY
FREE-RANGE
TOPICAL
These one-word hints will help you identify what other words of the category may contain.
The given hints have hopefully resolved the confusion and helped players form the groups without many errors. However, if that’s not the case and some are still trying to figure out the word groups of today, here are the solutions to the NYT Connections of February 18, 2026.
Yellow Category (RETRO HAIR DIRECTIVES): CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE
Green Category (RETRO SLANG FOR COOL): BAD, FLY, RAD, WICKED
Blue Category (CHICKEN DESCRIPTORS): BANTAM, CRESTED, FREE-RANGE, LEGHORN
Purple Category (___ CREAM): HEAVY, SHAVING, SOUR, TOPICAL
These are the four categories for today’s puzzle, and congratulations to those who have solved it without any help.
Also Read: Today’s NYT Strands Hints and Answers for February 17, 2026
Check out the image below to know how to make the sets of today’s puzzle:
NYT Connections’ highlight is its four different themes. Most NYT Puzzles have one theme, and the words are all related to that specific theme. However, it changes when it comes to NYT Connections. Every day, there are four new themes, which captivate puzzle enthusiasts across the world.
Without a sound knowledge of the connection between words, there’s no way one can guess the exact word groups without help. The solution not only provides players with a satisfying experience but also enriches their vocabulary.
Also Read: NYT Wordle Answer Today for February 17, 2026: Hints and Expert Walkthrough Revealed
