Connections is a daily word puzzle presenting sixteen words without hints. The challenge is to categorize these words into four groups with a limited number of allowed mistakes.
This guide provides solutions and hints for NYT Connections Puzzle #578 (January 9, 2025).
Puzzle Words: Shining, Finance, Table, Sit, Stand, Stay, To, It, Sea, Stall, Come, From, Legal, Heel, Booth, Sales
Hints & Solutions:
The expandable sections below offer increasing levels of assistance, from general clues to complete answers.

General Hints:
- The themes avoid horror movies and journeys between locations.
- Legal and Sales belong together.

Yellow Category Hints (Easy): Think small-scale, temporary sales locations, not storefronts or online businesses.

Yellow Category Answer: Vendor's Spot at a Market

Yellow Category Answer & Words: Vendor's Spot at a Market: Booth, Stall, Stand, Table

Green Category Hints (Medium): Consider commands used in dog training.

Green Category Answer: Dog Commands

Green Category Answer & Words: Dog Commands: Come, Heel, Sit, Stay

Blue Category Hints (Hard): Focus on departments within a business structure.

Blue Category Answer: Corporate Departments

Blue Category Answer & Words: Corporate Departments: Finance, IT, Legal, Sales

Purple Category Hints (Tricky): Think of the concluding words of a famous American patriotic song.

Purple Category Answer: Last Words in "America the Beautiful"

Purple Category Answer & Words: Last Words in "America the Beautiful": From, Sea, Shining, To

Complete Solution:
- Yellow: Vendor's Spot at a Market: Booth, Stall, Stand, Table
- Green: Dog Commands: Come, Heel, Sit, Stay
- Blue: Corporate Departments: Finance, IT, Legal, Sales
- Purple: Last Words in "America the Beautiful": From, Sea, Shining, To

Play Connections on the New York Times Games website.