NYT Connections Hints & Answers: Puzzle #585, Jan 16

The latest Connections puzzle delivers another brain-teasing challenge where you'll need to categorize sixteen tricky words with fewer than four mistakes to win. Your only clues? The words themselves staring back at you.

For seasoned Connections players, you know these puzzles can be deceptively tricky. Need some help cracking today's game? We've got you covered with strategic hints, clever category clues, and even full spoilers if you're truly stuck.

The Word List

Today's NYT Connections Puzzle #585 features these sixteen words:

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

General Puzzle Strategies

Before diving into specific category hints, here are three overarching clues:

1. Don't think about shopping destinations or errand locations

2. "Asset" and "Mole" belong together

3. "Mall" pairs with "Pack" in one category

Category Breakdown

The Easiest Group (Yellow)

Theme: Financial transactions/exchanges

Words: Business, Commerce, Market, Trade

The Medium Group (Green)

Theme: Wall-mounted home fixtures

Words: Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch

The Challenging Group (Blue)

Theme: Espionage terminology

Words: Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant

The Trickiest Group (Purple)

Theme: Everyday items combined with "Rat"

Words: Gym (Gym Rat), Mall (Mall Rat), Pack (Pack Rat), Rug (Rug Rat)

Complete Solution

• Yellow: Economic Terms - Business, Commerce, Market, Trade
• Green: Wall Installations - Baseboard, Outlet, Sconce, Switch
• Blue: Spy Terminology - Agent, Asset, Mole, Plant
• Purple: ___ Rat Compounds - Gym, Mall, Pack, Rug

Ready to test your skills? Play Connections directly on the New York Times Games website - compatible with most devices!