Today’s New York Times Connections puzzle struck a satisfying balance between clean structure and clever misdirection. Many solvers reported spotting the purple group early, while others fell briefly for a familiar literary red herring before the grid snapped into focus.
Puzzle #967 rewards pattern recognition over brute force. Community solvers frequently mentioned how one standout word nudged them toward the hardest category, while the remaining groups unfolded quickly once the trap was avoided.
Today’s NYT Connections Word List
These are the 16 words you’re working with today. Take a moment to scan for overlaps, false leads, and subtle transformations before jumping into the grid.
POPULAR, PERIOD, CROSS, STAMP, SPAN, PSALM, PASS, RYAN, LANYARD, STRETCH, REACHER, MARPLE, FAIR, INTERVAL, WRISTBAND, BOSCH
NYT Connections Hints for Today
If you’re still solving, try approaching today’s grid in this order. Each hint grows slightly more specific without giving the game away.
🟨 Yellow hint: Think about how long something lasts — not intensity, not size, but time itself.
🟩 Green hint: Items you might wear, show, or scan to prove you’re allowed in.
🟦 Blue hint: Last names tied to modern crime stories, especially popular in books and streaming adaptations.
🟪 Purple hint: Each word becomes something natural once a single extra letter is mentally removed.
NYT Connections Answers for February 2, 2026
🟨 Yellow Group — Tap to reveal
Category: DURATION
Words: INTERVAL, PERIOD, SPAN, STRETCH
🟩 Green Group — Tap to reveal
Category: CREDENTIALS FOR ENTRY
Words: LANYARD, PASS, STAMP, WRISTBAND
🟦 Blue Group — Tap to reveal
Category: MODERN CRIME SERIES PROTAGONISTS
Words: BOSCH, CROSS, REACHER, RYAN
🟪 Purple Group — Tap to reveal
Category: TREES PLUS A LETTER
Words: FAIR, MARPLE, POPULAR, PSALM
Many solvers described Puzzle #967 as one of those grids where everything suddenly clicks. If today boosted your streak, enjoy the win — tomorrow may not be as kind.
