NYT Connections Hints and Answers for Puzzle #585, Jan 16, 2025

Connections is back with yet another clever and thought-provoking puzzle challenge. This time, you're tasked with sorting sixteen seemingly unrelated words into four distinct categories—each containing four words—and you only have one chance to make fewer than four mistakes. The only clue? The words themselves.

If you’re already familiar with the mechanics of Connections, then you know just how deceptively difficult this puzzle can be. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back! Whether you need a subtle hint or a full reveal, this guide includes helpful clues, category breakdowns, and complete answers for today’s puzzle.

NYT Connections Puzzle #585 – January 16, 2025

The sixteen words in today's Connections puzzle are:

Market, Switch, Plant, Mall, Trade, Gym, Outlet, Asset, Rug, Business, Mole, Sconce, Pack, Agent, Baseboard, Commerce

Hints & Clues for NYT Connections Puzzle #585

Need a nudge in the right direction? Here are some hints to help you along the way. Expand each section by clicking the “Read More” button below.

General Hints

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• These are not typical places you’d visit for errands or shopping.
• The words "Asset" and "Mole" belong in the same group.
• "Mall" and "Pack" share a category.

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Yellow Category (Easiest)

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Hint: Think about economic activity or transactions.

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Answer: Buying and Selling
Words: Business, Commerce, Market, Trade

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Green Category (Medium)

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Hint: Consider household fixtures or parts of a room—think fireplace, TV, window, crown molding.

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Answer: Installed On a Wall
Words: Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch

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Blue Category (Difficult)

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Hint: Think espionage-related terms like informant or undercover operative.

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Answer: Spy
Words: Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant

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Purple Category (Tricky)

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Hint: Each word can combine with the same three-letter animal to form a common phrase.

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Answer: ___ Rat
Words: Gym, Mall, Pack, Rug

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Full Answers for Today’s NYT Connections #585

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Here are all the categories and their corresponding words:

• Yellow – Buying and Selling: Business, Commerce, Market, Trade
• Green – Installed On a Wall: Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch
• Blue – Spy: Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant
• Purple – \_\_\_ Rat: Gym, Mall, Pack, Rug

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Ready to play? Head over to the official New York Times Games Connections website, where you can enjoy this brain-teasing game on nearly any device with a browser.