NYT Connections Answers – Monday, February 9, 2026 (#974)

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers & Help – February 9, 2026 (Puzzle #974)

Looking for today’s NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, February 9, 2026 (#974)? Below you’ll find progressive hints, all four group answers, clear explanations, and strategy tips to help you solve today’s varied and tricky puzzle.

Today’s grid mixes crafting tools, abstract ideas, publishing terms, and wordplay, making it a solid medium-to-hard challenge.

Puzzle date: Monday, February 9, 2026
Connections number: 974
Game: NYT Connections
Play free: nytimes.com/games/connections

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🧩 Progressive Hints for Today’s Connections (#974)

From easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple):

1. 🟨 Yellow – A textile art → tools and materials used to make fabric.
2. 🟩 Green – How you do something → words meaning “method.”
3. 🟦 Blue – Related to books and money → how authors get paid.
4. 🟪 Purple – You might do this with crayons → phrases starting with “draw.”

Still stuck? Scroll for the full answers below.

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✅ Full Answers – NYT Connections #974 (Feb 9, 2026)

🟨 Yellow – Used in weaving

• LOOM
• NEEDLE
• SCISSORS
• YARN

(All are tools or materials commonly associated with weaving and textile work.)

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🟩 Green – Method

• APPROACH
• MANNER
• STYLE
• WAY

(Synonyms for how something is done.)

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🟦 Blue – Kinds of payment for an author

• ADVANCE
• BONUS
• FEE
• ROYALTY

(Common ways writers are compensated in publishing.)

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🟪 Purple – Draw ____

• NEAR (draw near)
• POKER (draw poker)
• STRAWS (draw straws)
• THE LINE (draw the line)

(This category relies on common phrases that begin with “draw.”)

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🧠 Today’s 16 Words (Reference)

ADVANCE, APPROACH, BONUS, FEE, LOOM, MANNER, NEEDLE, NEAR, POKER, ROYALTY, SCISSORS, STRAWS, STYLE, THE LINE, WAY, YARN

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🎯 Why Today’s Puzzle Was Tricky

• Yellow looked simple but mixed tools and materials together.
• Green used very common words, increasing overlap confusion.
• Blue required publishing knowledge (advance vs royalty).
• Purple was the hardest — idiomatic phrases with “draw” are easy to miss.

Difficulty rating: 🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ (Medium)

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💡 Pro Solving Strategy

• Lock in concrete objects first (LOOM, YARN).
• Group abstract synonyms next (WAY, STYLE).
• Publishing terms often signal author-related payments.
• Save phrase-based categories like “draw ___” for last.

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❓ FAQ – NYT Connections February 9, 2026 (#974)

Q: What are the answers for Connections puzzle #974?
A:
🟨 Used in weaving: LOOM, NEEDLE, SCISSORS, YARN
🟩 Method: APPROACH, MANNER, STYLE, WAY
🟦 Author payments: ADVANCE, BONUS, FEE, ROYALTY
🟪 Draw ___: NEAR, POKER, STRAWS, THE LINE

Q: What was the hardest group today?
A: The purple “Draw ___” category due to phrase-based wordplay.

Q: Is there a Connections Bot like Wordle?
A: Yes. After playing, registered NYT users can view analysis and stats in the Connections Bot.

Q: How many mistakes are allowed in Connections?
A: Four incorrect guesses before the puzzle ends.

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Solved it clean? 🟨🟩🟦🟪
Struggled with “draw the line”? Totally normal — purple strikes again.

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See you tomorrow for Connections #975. Happy puzzling! 🧠✨