The NYT Connections puzzle for January 5th, 2025 (#574) presents a challenging word grouping challenge. This guide provides hints, solutions, and answers to help you conquer this brain teaser. Remember, this only provides solutions; the rules of the game are assumed known.

Puzzle Words: Stop, Gross, Make, Home, Yield, Volume, Slow, Snare, Quiet, Kettle, Net, Mute, Ear, Sleepy, Oil, Calm.

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General Hints:

• The categories do not relate to street signs or corn.
• "Mute" and "Stop" belong in the same group.

Image 2-7: (Repeated across multiple sections)

Yellow Category (Easy):

• Hint: Think of descriptors for a quiet, small town.
• Answer: Hardly Bustling
• Words: Calm, Quiet, Sleepy, Slow

Green Category (Medium):

• Hint: Relates to the amount of money earned.
• Answer: Earn
• Words: Gross, Make, Net, Yield

Blue Category (Hard):

• Hint: Consider functions found on a typical remote control.
• Answer: Remote Control Functions
• Words: Home, Mute, Stop, Volume

Purple Category (Tricky):

• Hint: Each word can be followed by a specific four-letter word to create common compound words.
• Answer: Words Before Drum
• Words: Ear, Kettle, Oil, Snare

Complete Solution:

• Yellow: Hardly Bustling - Calm, Quiet, Sleepy, Slow
• Green: Earn - Gross, Make, Net, Yield
• Blue: Remote Control Functions - Home, Mute, Stop, Volume
• Purple: Words Before Drum - Ear, Kettle, Oil, Snare

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Ready to test your skills? Find the New York Times Games Connections puzzle online.