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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesSpoilers for NYT Connections game #983: the four groups are retro hair directives, retro slang for “cool,” chicken descriptors, and words that pair with “cream.” If you want to solve it yourself first, use the hint ladder below before opening the answers.
Hints for Connections #983
Parade’s clues progress from the least revealing to the most direct. Stop at any point if you want to keep solving:
- Farrah hair
- Totally tubular!
- Bock-bock!
- Can refer to a dairy product or a cosmetic
PC Guide also offered these category prompts: hair styling techniques, slang words, types of fowl, and high-fat milk. Its one-word starting hints were CRIMP, BAD, BANTAM, and HEAVY.
Answers for Wednesday, February 18
The following are the reported groups and all sixteen words. PC Guide and Parade independently report the same sets for game #983, dated Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The Tool Desk
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| Group | Words | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| Retro hair directives | CRIMP, CURL, FEATHER, TEASE | Hair-styling instructions with a retro frame. |
| Retro slang for “cool” | BAD, FLY, RAD, WICKED | Slang terms used to mean cool. |
| Chicken descriptors | BANTAM, CRESTED, FREE-RANGE, LEGHORN | Types or descriptors of chicken. |
| ___ cream | HEAVY, SHAVING, SOUR, TOPICAL | Each word forms a phrase when followed by “cream.” |
Why the weight-class combination is a red herring
BANTAM, HEAVY, FEATHER, and FLY can suggest combat-sports weight classes. Forbes notes that overlap, but those words belong to different intended groups in this grid: BANTAM is a chicken descriptor, HEAVY completes “heavy cream,” FEATHER is a hair directive, and FLY is retro slang for “cool.” The useful check is whether a tempting connection accounts for a coherent set without pulling words away from stronger complete categories.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reported difficulty and puzzle format
PC Guide reports a difficulty rating of 2.3 out of 5, attributing it to NYT; the original NYT rating page was not independently verified. PC Guide describes Connections as sixteen words divided into four themed groups of four, with category colors running from yellow as easiest to purple as most difficult. These format details are reported by PC Guide rather than independently confirmed against an official NYT help page.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
Sources
- PC Guide: NYT Connections hints and answers for February 18, 2026 — answer groups, format description, and reported difficulty.
- Parade: NYT Connections hints and answers for February 18 — date, answer groups, and clue ladder.
- Forbes: NYT Connections hints and answers for Wednesday, February 18 — category explanations and the weight-class overlap.
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