Blue group — CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERS
Why is “INFINITIVE” in the Blue group?
the base form of a verb, or a car brand with a suffix, in this case, Infiniti with a suffix
Connections Hints for February 21, 2026 #985
Pro tip: Tap each section to reveal answers one at a time. If you just need a gentle hint, get the connection hint for February 21, 2026 #985
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Yellow Category — February 21, 2026
Green Category — February 21, 2026
Blue Category — February 21, 2026
Purple Category — February 21, 2026
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Definitions for the most unusual words in today's puzzle
Tricky Words in Today's Connections
▼Blue group — CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERS
Why is “MINION” in the Blue group?
a small yellow creature, or a car brand (Mini) with a suffix
Word definitions
Tricky words in today's Connections (February 21, 2026)
Several words in today's puzzle have multiple meanings or obscure definitions that can throw you off. Here's what each one means in the context of this Connections grid.
- LIFE
- Definition: a person's experience or history
- Why it's tricky: can refer to many things, including biology or a person's story
- PAST
- Definition: a previous time or experience
- Why it's tricky: can be a noun or an adjective
- PERFECT
- Definition: completely successful or satisfactory
- Why it's tricky: can describe something flawless or a successful connection
- INFINITIVE
- Definition: the base form of a verb, or a car brand (Infiniti) with a suffix
- Why it's tricky: has multiple meanings and is similar to a car brand
Connections #985 explained
Why these words connect (February 21, 2026)
Understanding the logic behind each group helps you spot similar patterns in future puzzles. Here's the reasoning for every category in today's Connections.
Yellow group: EXPERIENCE
These words all relate to a person's history or story, including their past and life experiences.
Green group: ATTENDANCE STATUS
These words all describe different attendance statuses, including being present, absent, or late.
Blue group: COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
These words all describe positive reactions to connections, including great, perfect, and solid matches.
Purple group: CAR BRANDS PLUS TWO LETTERS
These words are all car brands with two extra letters, including Audi with 'its' to make 'audits', and Dodge with 'rs' to make 'dodgers'.
Red herrings and trap words explained
These words were designed to mislead you. Understanding why they don't belong where you first think sharpens your game for tomorrow.
“LIFE”
Seems like it belongs to: EXPERIENCE
Actually belongs to: COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
LIFE seems like it belongs to EXPERIENCE, but it's actually a word that could be used to describe a great connection, making it fit COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
“PAST”
Seems like it belongs to: EXPERIENCE
Actually belongs to: EXPERIENCE
PAST seems like a straightforward fit for EXPERIENCE, which it is, but its multiple meanings could lead to confusion
Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained
These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.
Why “LIFE” didn't go with EXPERIENCE
Seems like: EXPERIENCE → Actually: COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
LIFE seems like it belongs to EXPERIENCE, but it's actually a word that could be used to describe a great connection, making it fit COMMENTARY ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIONS RESULTS
Why “PAST” didn't go with EXPERIENCE
Seems like: EXPERIENCE → Actually: EXPERIENCE
PAST seems like a straightforward fit for EXPERIENCE, which it is, but its multiple meanings could lead to confusion