Blue group — WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AS PROPER NOUNS
Why is “POLISH” in the Blue group?
relating to Poland, with different pronunciations in American and British English
Connections Hints for April 22, 2026 #1045
Pro tip: Tap each section to reveal answers one at a time. If you just need a gentle hint, get the connection hint for April 22, 2026 #1045
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Yellow Category — April 22, 2026
Green Category — April 22, 2026
Blue Category — April 22, 2026
Purple Category — April 22, 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 — WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AS PROPER NOUNS
Why is “READING” in the Blue group?
a town in England, with different pronunciations in American and British English
Word definitions
Tricky words in today's Connections (April 22, 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.
- POLISH
- Definition: relating to Poland, or a type of nail care
- Why it's tricky: has multiple meanings, including a nationality and a type of cosmetic
- READING
- Definition: a town in England, or the act of interpreting written text
- Why it's tricky: has multiple meanings, including a geographic location and an activity
- HERB
- Definition: a type of plant, or the American pronunciation of the name of the herb
- Why it's tricky: has different pronunciations in American and British English
- NICE
- Definition: a city in France, or an adjective meaning pleasant
- Why it's tricky: has multiple meanings, including a geographic location and a descriptive word
Connections #1045 explained
Why these words connect (April 22, 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: POTTERY EQUIPMENT
These are all essential items used in the process of creating pottery, from preparing the clay to firing the final product.
Green group: WALLOP
These are all words that can be used to describe a strong impact or blow, whether physical or emotional.
Blue group: WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AS PROPER NOUNS
These are all words that have different pronunciations when used as proper nouns, often due to their origins or cultural context.
Purple group: PICK-UP ___
These are all words that can be used to complete the phrase 'pick-up ___', whether it's a game, a truck, or an artist.
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.
“STICKS”
Seems like it belongs to: POTTERY EQUIPMENT
Actually belongs to: PICK-UP ___
while sticks can be used in pottery, this word is actually part of a phrase like 'pick-up sticks'
“GAME”
Seems like it belongs to: WALLOP
Actually belongs to: PICK-UP ___
while a game can be intense, this word is actually part of a phrase like 'pick-up game'
Today's Tricky Traps — Red Herrings Explained
These words look like they belong in one group but actually fit somewhere else entirely.
Why “STICKS” didn't go with POTTERY EQUIPMENT
Seems like: POTTERY EQUIPMENT → Actually: PICK-UP ___
while sticks can be used in pottery, this word is actually part of a phrase like 'pick-up sticks'
Why “GAME” didn't go with WALLOP
Seems like: WALLOP → Actually: PICK-UP ___
while a game can be intense, this word is actually part of a phrase like 'pick-up game'