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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNYT Connections game #985 is the Friday, February 20, 2026 puzzle. It contains 16 words divided into four groups of four. Spoiler warning: the categories and answers appear below.
Today’s Connections answers for February 20, 2026
The four intended groups are corroborated by TechRadar and Try Hard Guides.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | QUICK FIX | EASY ANSWER, MAGIC WAND, PANACEA, SILVER BULLET |
| Green | ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOON | ECLIPSE, GREEN CHEESE, TIDE, WEREWOLF |
| Blue | ORIGINAL MONOPOLY TOKENS | BOOT, IRON, THIMBLE, TOP HAT |
| Purple | WHAT “JACK” MIGHT REFER TO | CHEESE, DONKEY, PLAYING CARD, SOCKET |
Why the words belong together
Yellow: QUICK FIX
An easy answer, magic wand, panacea, or silver bullet can each suggest a quick or comprehensive solution to a problem. The expressions are not exact synonyms: some imply a simple answer, while others evoke a remedy that seems to solve everything.
Green: ASSOCIATED WITH THE MOON
An eclipse can involve the Moon, tides are influenced by lunar gravity, and werewolves are traditionally linked in folklore to the full Moon. “Green cheese” points to the familiar fanciful expression that the Moon is made of green cheese; it is a cultural association, not a scientific claim.
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Blue: ORIGINAL MONOPOLY TOKENS
Boot, iron, thimble, and top hat are the four Monopoly playing pieces in this group. The connection is a literal set of game tokens rather than a shared meaning among the words.
Purple: WHAT “JACK” MIGHT REFER TO
Each word can follow or describe a different sense of “Jack”: Jack cheese, a donkey (also called a jackass), a jack in a playing-card deck, and an electrical jack or socket. This group depends on shifting between meanings rather than one narrow category.
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How to read the trickier connections
The board mixes direct categories with looser associations. The Monopoly pieces form a concrete set; the “Jack” answers rely on multiple meanings; and the Moon group blends physical influence, folklore, and a familiar saying. Those differences explain why words that seem to fit more than one idea can be misleading.
For another published answer key, Parade’s February 20 guide also agrees on the groupings, though an internal subheading on that page says Thursday, February 19. The game number and Friday date are the identifiers used here.
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