While it might have been released to the public back in October 2021, Wordle‘s popularity shows no signs of slowing down.
The word-based puzzle became an online sensation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stuck at home because of lockdown restrictions, people became addicted to solving Wordle’s daily challenge, sharing their wins on social media and drawing in even more players. However, Wordle was never intended to take over the world.
Josh Wardle created it as a gift for his crossword-loving girlfriend, Palek Shah. The Brooklyn-based software engineer developed the game from a prototype he had experimented with, but ultimately abandoned, way back in 2013. After showing the new-and-improved version to his friends and family, he realized that other puzzle nerds might enjoy Wordle, so he uploaded it to the internet.
In November 2021, the mobile game had just 91 users, but by January 2022, that figure had reached 2 million. The New York Times was so impressed that it purchased the game for a seven-figure sum.
Since taking over the internet, Wordle has done what few viral sensations have been able to: it has remained popular—and is still the publication’s most-played puzzle.
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The puzzle challenges players to guess a five-letter word within six attempts and are guided by a color-coded tile system to let them know if they are on the right track. A green tile means the letter is correct; while yellow tells you the letter appears in the word but is in the wrong spot; and a gray tile means the letter does not appear in the word at all.
What sets Wordle apart is its simplicity and accessibility. With a minimalist interface and straightforward gameplay, it appeals to casual gamers and word enthusiasts alike. Its short play sessions make it perfect for a quick mental workout during a coffee break or a leisurely scroll through social media.
Newsweek has put together five clues to help you solve today’s Wordle puzzle. The answer is revealed further down, so scroll with caution.
‘Wordle’ #1,279, Clues for Thursday, December 19
Hint #1: Today’s answer is a noun, verb and adjective.
Hint #2: There are no repeated letters.
Hint #3: It contains only one vowel.
Hint #4: Synonyms include “deviate” and “roam.”
Hint #5: The word starts and ends with a consonant.
‘Wordle’ #1,279, Answer for Thursday, December 19
The answer to today’s Wordle is “stray.”
According to Merriam-Webster, the noun is defined as “a domestic animal that is wandering at large or is lost” and the verb is “to wander from company, restraint, or proper limits.” The adjective is defined as “having strayed or escaped from a proper or intended place.”
Congratulations if you figured out the answer! But please don’t worry if not. Wordle updates every day at midnight in your local time zone, at which point the next puzzle becomes available. Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips for each new game.
In the meantime, you could try your hand at Connections—another popular game from The New York Times, for which Newsweek also provides daily hints.
