February has officially arrived, bringing with it a fresh 4×4 grid and that familiar mix of morning ambition and “wait, what?” confusion. Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is a masterclass in misdirection, blending high-energy slang with some surprisingly sharp wordplay that might make you second-guess your vocabulary before you’ve even finished your first cup of coffee. Whether you’re one mistake away from defeat or just looking for a gentle nudge to organize your thoughts, we’ve decoded the logic behind the February 1st groupings to help you solve it with your streak and your sanity intact.
NYT Connections Puzzle Hints for February 1, 2026
If you don’t want the answers just yet, use these nudge-style hints to guide your thinking:
- Yellow Group: Think about what a marketing team does when they want everyone to know about a new product.
- Green Group: Look at the floor. Specifically, look at what might be on your feet during a casual summer day or a fancy dinner.
- Blue Group: These are all terms you’d hear a DJ or a Gen Z music fan use to describe a track that absolutely hits.
- Purple Group: This is the “wordplay” category. Try adding a letter to the start of these words to reveal musical instruments (e.g., Lute).
The Categories & Answers
Yellow: Publicize
BOOST, HYPE, PITCH, PLUG
Green: Kinds of Shoes
CLOG, FLAT, MULE, WEDGE
Blue: Anthem
BANGER, BOP, HEATER, JAM
Purple: Musical Instruments Plus Starting Letter
GLUTE (G + Lute), MORGAN (M + Organ), SHARP (S + Harp), THORN (T + Horn)
Looking Back?
If you missed yesterday’s puzzle or just want to see how the week wrapped up, check out our NYT Connections hints for January 31st.
