Wordle, a simple yet addictive daily word puzzle, has grown into a global phenomenon since The New York Times acquired it in 2022. The game challenges players to guess a five-letter word in six attempts, using color-coded hints to guide their progress. Green indicates a correct letter in the right position, yellow means the letter is in the word but in the wrong place, and gray signifies that the letter isn’t in the word at all. Wordle’s blend of logic and vocabulary has made it a staple for word game enthusiasts.
On September 18, 2024, the Wordle puzzle (#1187) featured the word “FULLY”, a moderately difficult word due to its repeated “L” and a single vowel. Solving puzzles like this requires strategy, a good starting word, and pattern recognition, which keep players returning daily.
Wordle Puzzle for September 18, 2024 (Wordle #1187)
The Wordle answer for September 18, 2024, was “FULLY”. This word posed a moderate challenge to many players due to its repeated “L” and the singular vowel, “U.” As Wordle puzzles go, words with repeated letters often throw off players, especially since the game doesn’t reveal the repeat until players guess both positions.
Here is a breakdown of the hints that might have helped players:
- Hint 1: The word contains one vowel.
- Hint 2: There is one repeated letter in the word.
- Hint 3: The word means completely or entirely.
- Hint 4: The word starts with “F” and ends with “Y.”
These clues directed players toward a fairly common English word, though the double “L” might have led to multiple guesses.
Solving the Puzzle: Strategy and Process
Step 1: Choosing the Right Starting Word
One of the most important strategies in Wordle is picking the right starting word. Since the word “FULLY” contains both consonants and a single vowel, a common starting word like “CRANE” or “ARISE” would not have yielded many results. However, some players opt for words with more vowels to begin with, like “ADIEU” or “AUDIO,” to quickly reveal any vowels present.
In this puzzle, words like “AUDIO” would have revealed the vowel “U” early, which is central to solving the puzzle. Once the “U” is in place, players often try words that test more consonants around it, such as “LUNCH” or “FUNNY.” These guesses reveal more about the structure of the word.
Step 2: Identifying Patterns and Letters
Once a player has identified the presence of a “U” and noticed that “L” might appear twice (after a few rounds of gray tiles), they can begin narrowing down their guesses. The repeated “L” makes this puzzle trickier than most, as players tend not to guess words with repeated letters until later attempts.
For instance, if the guess “LUNCH” reveals the presence of an “L,” players might try another word with an “L” in a different position. A guess like “SURLY” would confirm the presence of both “L” and “Y.” After this, many players would deduce that the “L” repeats and complete the puzzle with the word “FULLY.”
Step 3: Contextual Clues and Synonyms
Sometimes, it’s not just about the letters but also about context and meaning. One of the clues provided for September 18’s puzzle was that the word meant completely or entirely. Words like “FULLY” are synonymous with these meanings, so once players identified the correct letters, they might have leaned on their vocabulary knowledge to make the final guess.
Why Wordle Puzzles With Repeated Letters Are Challenging
A key difficulty with words like “FULLY” lies in the repeated letter. Many players expect each letter to be unique in a five-letter word, which is not always the case in Wordle. This tendency to overlook repeated letters can lead to unnecessary guesses and frustration.
In fact, some of the hardest Wordle puzzles in the past have involved repeated letters, such as “BANAL” or “REBUS.” Because the game doesn’t highlight the possibility of a repeated letter until both instances are guessed, players often lose attempts figuring this out.
For instance, in this puzzle, if a player guessed “FUNNY,” they might think the “L” could only appear once, thereby wasting a few guesses until they realize the word has two “L”s.
The Importance of Good Starting Words
Choosing the right starting word is vital for success in Wordle. A strong starting word covers a range of common letters and includes vowels. Some of the best starting words include:
- CRANE
- SLATE
- ADIEU
- ARISE
- ABOUT
Players who used words like “CRANE” or “ARISE” on September 18 might not have uncovered the “U” quickly but would have tested common letters like “R,” “A,” and “S.” On the other hand, those who started with “AUDIO” would have found the “U” but missed other key consonants.
The choice of a starting word can either streamline the solving process or complicate it, especially when dealing with words that include repeated letters.
Wordle’s Impact on Language and Puzzle Solving
Since its inception, Wordle has not only provided a fun daily puzzle but also influenced how people think about language. Its popularity has led to numerous spin-offs, including “Quordle”, “Heardle” (a musical version), and even “Octordle”, where players must solve multiple Wordles simultaneously. Additionally, Wordle’s integration into daily routines has fostered discussions on strategy, vocabulary, and even memory improvement.
Wordle’s simplicity is what sets it apart from other word games like Scrabble or Boggle. There are no complex point systems or extended word lists to memorize. The game thrives on its limitation: players must guess a single five-letter word every day, with only six attempts.
This limitation encourages creativity and pattern recognition, skills that transfer well into other problem-solving activities. Many players report that after months of playing Wordle, they have become faster at anagrams, crossword puzzles, and even brain teasers.
