NYT Connections #585 Hints & Answers: Jan 16

The latest Connections puzzle offers another stimulating mental exercise. To solve it successfully, you must categorize all sixteen words into correct groups while making fewer than four errors. Your sole clues lie in the relationships between the words themselves.

Regular players understand the game's intellectual demands. For those needing assistance, this guide provides helpful hints, category clues, and full solutions to navigate the challenge.

Today's Puzzle Words (January 16, 2025)

The current puzzle features these words: Market, Switch, Plant, Mall, Trade, Gym, Outlet, Asset, Rug, Business, Mole, Sconce, Pack, Agent, Baseboard, and Commerce.

Guided Hints for Today's Puzzle

Whether you need gentle nudges or direct answers, explore these gradually revealing clues to help crack the categories.

General Strategy Tips

1. These words don't represent typical shopping destinations or errand locations
2. Asset and Mole belong to the same category
3. Mall and Pack share a group

Yellow Category (Easiest) Clues

Hint: This group relates to economic transactions.

Yellow Category Solution

Category: Buying and Selling

Words: Business, Commerce, Market, Trade

Green Category (Medium) Clues

Hint: Other examples could include a fireplace, TV, window, or crown molding.

Green Category Solution

Category: Wall-Mounted Items

Words: Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch

Blue Category (Difficult) Clues

Hint: Think about intelligence operatives.

Blue Category Solution

Category: Spy Terminology

Words: Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant

Purple Category (Trickiest) Clues

Hint: Each word creates a common compound word when combined with a three-letter animal name.

Purple Category Solution

Category: ___ Rat

Words: Gym, Mall, Pack, Rug

Complete Solution

• Yellow - Buying and Selling: Business, Commerce, Market, Trade
• Green - Wall-Mounted Items: Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch
• Blue - Spy Terminology: Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant
• Purple - ___ Rat: Gym, Mall, Pack, Rug

Ready to play? Visit the New York Times Games Connections site from any web-enabled device.