NYT Connections #984 is the Thursday, February 19, 2026 puzzle. Start with the four broad hints below; the category labels and complete tile groups are farther down, behind spoiler warnings.
Hints for Connections #984
Connections asks you to sort 16 words or phrases into four groups of four based on a shared link. This board combines familiar themes with one sound-alike wordplay group.
- One group is associated with a spring holiday.
- One group belongs beside a fireplace.
- One group points to a disco-era film.
- One group sounds like things you might do to cook food.
Each group below includes one example tile: EGGS, POKER, DISCO, and SEER. Stop here if you want to solve the board before seeing more.
Category names
Spoilers below: these are the four category labels, without the complete tile groupings.
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#1 Best Overall
- Easter supplies
- Fireplace accessories
- Elements of Saturday Night Fever
- Homophones of ways to cook something
Connections #984 answers
Full spoilers: here are all 16 tiles, grouped by category.
- Easter supplies: BASKET, DYE, EGGS, PEEPS
- Fireplace accessories: BELLOWS, POKER, SHOVEL, TONGS
- Elements of Saturday Night Fever: DISCO, JOHN TRAVOLTA, PLATFORM SHOES, POLYESTER SUIT
- Homophones of ways to cook something: BOYLE, BRAYS, SEER, STU
Why the purple group fits
Read the four purple tiles aloud and they sound like cooking verbs: BOYLE like “boil,” BRAYS like “braise,” SEER like “sear,” and STU like “stew.” The other sets use more direct associations: holiday items, fireplace tools, and features linked to the film.
Rank #2
How Connections works
The game presents 16 tiles and asks you to find four related sets. Some tiles can appear to fit more than one theme, so look for the precise relationship that accounts for all four words in a group. A fourth incorrect guess ends the game. The Forbes guide describes yellow as typically easiest, followed by blue, green, and purple, but that is a general tendency rather than a fixed rule for every puzzle.
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