Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #985 hints and answers for Friday, February 20, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #985 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

QUICK FIX

EASY ANSWER · MAGIC WAND · PANACEA · SILVER BULLET

Group 2 - Green

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOON

ECLIPSE · GREEN CHEESE · TIDE · WEREWOLF

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

ORIGINAL MONOPOLY TOKENS

BOOT · IRON · THIMBLE · TOP HAT

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

WHAT "JACK" MIGHT REFER TO

CHEESE · DONKEY · PLAYING CARD · SOCKET

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "True grit"