January 5, 2025 Connections Puzzle #574 Tips & Solutions

If you’re eager to achieve success with today’s Connections puzzle, utilizing these helpful clues will be beneficial. Today’s challenge features an array of words that may appear to belong to a different context, alongside a variety of other conditions that could complicate your efforts. However, by carefully observing specific details, you can streamline your puzzle-solving experience. To assist you, we have compiled a set of insightful clues below.

For those seeking additional puzzles, consider trying the Wordle game from the New York Times. While similar to Connections, Wordle focuses on guessing a single five-letter word. You are granted more chances to succeed with six attempts instead of just four. Additionally, Wordle provides hints by revealing which guessed letters are incorrect, thus facilitating quicker resolutions.

Today’s Connections Category Hints

JANUARY 05 #574

Volume in Connections Categories January 05

Puzzles often hide their clues amidst misleading distractions, making it challenging to identify the right connections. There are endless possibilities, and virtually any word can potentially link to another. However, the specific details highlighted earlier can guide you in categorizing the appropriate words effectively. Here are the categories you should focus on:

A category pertaining to levels of busyness
A category that describes the rewards of effort
A category featuring items found on a specific device
A category consisting of words that precede a term associated with concerts

If these hints aren’t sufficient, rest assured that there are further insights below, including category names and spoilers.

HARDLY BUSTLING

EARN

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS

WORDS BEFORE “DRUM”

Today’s Connections Answers

JANUARY 05 #574

Volume in Connections Answers January 05

Yellow Answers: Revealed & Explained

HARDLY BUSTLING
CALM	QUIET	SLEEPY	SLOW

This category can be a bit tricky. Although SLOW initially seemed like it could fit elsewhere, once I let go of the distraction of potential road sign associations, it became clearer. While CALM and QUIET made logical connections, I initially thought MUTE was fitting too. Ultimately, when it became evident MUTE was incorrect, swapping it for SLEEPY led me to the right answer.

Green Answers: Revealed & Explained

EARN
GROSS	MAKE	NET	YIELD

Despite the presence of the elusive word YIELD, the path became clearer once I recognized GROSS and MAKE as common themes. While SNARE crossed my mind, NET eventually proved more fitting due to its compatibility with the concept of earnings.

Blue Answers: Revealed & Explained

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS
HOME	MUTE	STOP	VOLUME

Upon realizing STOP didn’t fit with the previously considered road sign-related words, I turned to functionalities that commonly associate with remote controls. The connection between VOLUME and MUTE was apparent, but it was the inclusion of HOME that solidified the answer.

Purple Answers: Revealed & Explained

WORDS BEFORE “DRUM”
EAR	KETTLE	OIL	SNARE

Initially, I was unsure about this last category. However, the connections made more sense once I identified the specific word associations involved, particularly recognizing how these terms ultimately relate to “drum.”This category exemplifies the often misleading nature of puzzle design, which sometimes presents unexpected linkages.

Other Games Like Connections

For enthusiasts seeking additional challenges, a wealth of puzzles awaits in the selection below.

Game Name	How To Play	Is It Free To Play?
Wordle (NOW)	Solve a five-letter word using color-coded clues. All Wordle answers are available in our regularly updated list.	Yes
Worldle	Identify a country from its silhouette, aided by geographical hints.	Yes
The Password Game	Craft a password within this evolving, challenging game. Helpful tips can be found in our Password Game guide.	Yes
Absurdle	Attempt to solve a Wordle-style game without guidance, with the game revealing minimal information after each guess.	Yes