Connections hint today #939: Can you actually solve this if you’re glued to social media

If you’re glued to social media, today’s Connections hint puzzle #939 might just be your moment to shine. The New York Times word game has a distinctly Instagram-friendly yellow category that rewards people who know the ins and outs of platform engagement. Stuck on the other categories? We’ve got you covered with detailed hints and the complete answers.

What Is the Yellow Category Hint About Today?

The yellow group is the easiest category in Connections, and today’s puzzle features things you can do on social media. If you spend time on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok, these words should feel familiar. The category focuses on common user actions you perform every day without thinking. Look for words related to engagement and interaction that describe everyday platform behaviors.

Social media addiction is real, and this puzzle acknowledges it. The yellow answers include terms that describe basic platform interactions. Think about what actions are available to you when you’re scrolling through your feed or viewing someone’s post. These are foundational engagement mechanics that every platform offers.

Breaking Down All Four Connections #939 Categories

Today’s puzzle consists of four distinct categories, each color-coded by difficulty level. The green group focuses on geography and extremes, asking you to identify words meaning “furthest point.” This requires thinking beyond simple directional language. The blue category challenges art enthusiasts with art movements containing the suffix “-ism.” These are specific historical art styles that revolutionized creative expression.

The purple category is notoriously tricky because it requires thinking about what the letter “V” might represent in different contexts. Rather than a letter puzzle, this category explores multiple meanings and uses of the single letter V. Each meaning creates a valid word that solves the puzzle, making this the toughest category for most players.

Category	Theme	Difficulty
Yellow	Social media actions	Easiest
Green	Furthest point definitions	Easy-Medium
Blue	Art movements with “-ism”	Medium-Hard
Purple	What the letter “V” means	Hardest

Complete Connections #939 Answer Guide for January 5

Here are the complete answers for today’s puzzle, organized by category and difficulty level. The yellow category contains the four primary actions users perform on social media platforms daily. COMMENT, LIKE, LURK, and POST represent the core engagement mechanics that social media platforms are built around. Everyone recognizes these words, making this the ideal starting point for solving the puzzle.

The green category asks for words meaning “furthest point.” The answers are END, EXTREME, OPPOSITE, and POLE. Each word captures the concept of being at the maximum distance or most remote location. POLE refers to geographic poles, END means the farthest extent, EXTREME represents something at its furthest point, and OPPOSITE describes being on the furthest side from something. The blue category focuses on art movements with the “-ism” suffix. The answers are BRUTAL, IMPRESSION, MANNER, and REAL. These represent four distinct art movements: Brutalism, Impressionism, Mannerism, and Realism—historical movement that shaped visual expression.

“Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc.”

— New York Times Connections Editorial Team, Game Design

Solving Strategy: From Social Media Addict to Connections Champion

The best Connections strategy starts with the yellow category, which provides confidence and momentum. Look for the easiest-to-spot connections first, which removes words from the board and clarifies remaining patterns. Many players begin by identifying words they’re absolutely certain about, then use elimination to solve trickier categories. When stuck, shuffle the board to see fresh arrangements that might reveal hidden connections.

Avoid the trap of forcing words together just because they share obvious meanings. The game designers specifically create false connections to mislead players. A word might seem to fit with multiple categories simultaneously. When you hit “one away” messages, it means three of your four words are correct, but one is wrong—don’t immediately guess the fourth word. Instead, reconsider your entire group selection because one of your three “correct” words might belong elsewhere.

Why Today’s Puzzle Celebrates Social Media Culture?

The yellow category today acknowledges the reality of modern digital life: social media interactions dominate how millions communicate. The puzzle designers chose to make this the easiest category, suggesting that platform engagement is obvious and intuitive to contemporary players. Whether you’re a heavy user or occasional viewer, these terms are unavoidable in today’s internet-connected world.

The puzzle difficulty level for Connections #939 is rated moderate overall, despite the approachable yellow category. The purple section with letter “V” meanings creates genuine challenge even for experienced players. This balance—combining accessible content with brain-teasing categories—keeps the daily puzzle engaging across all skill levels, from casual social media fans to serious word game enthusiasts.

Sources

• Mashable – Complete Connections puzzle hints and verified answers
• CNET – Daily puzzle strategy and difficulty analysis
• New York Times Games – Official puzzle design and rules