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Issue #983 Wed 18 Feb

NYT Connections Hints & Answer — February 18, 2026

Two groups of direct synonyms meet two wordplay sets where the blank is the key. Keep an eye on the lower rows, as a few terms here have double lives in other categories.

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The verified answer is available below, but the progressive clues for February 18, 2026 have not passed editorial review yet.

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Complete Connections answer

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  1. Reveal the yellow group
    RETRO HAIR DIRECTIVES

    CRIMP · CURL · FEATHER · TEASE

  2. Reveal the green group
    RETRO SLANG FOR COOL

    BAD · FLY · RAD · WICKED

  3. Reveal the blue group
    CHICKEN DESCRIPTORS

    BANTAM · CRESTED · FREE-RANGE · LEGHORN

  4. Reveal the violet group
    ___ CREAM

    HEAVY · SHAVING · SOUR · TOPICAL

Verified solution for .

Today

Difficulty
Stiff
At a glance
4 groups · 16 words

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