The NYT Wordle puzzle for September 21, 2024, presented an interesting challenge for puzzle enthusiasts. The goal of Wordle is simple: guess a five-letter word within six attempts. Each time you guess a word, the game provides feedback by coloring the tiles. Green tiles indicate that the letter is in the correct position, yellow tiles show that the letter is in the word but in the wrong position, and gray tiles mean the letter isn’t in the word at all.
On this particular day, the solution required a bit more thought, as the word wasn’t commonly used in everyday conversation, and it had some tricky features. The solution had one vowel and one repeating letter, which added to the complexity. Here’s a breakdown of the approach, hints, and eventual solution to Wordle #1190.
Strategies and Starting Words
When playing Wordle, having a good strategy can significantly improve your chances of solving the puzzle in fewer attempts. One of the most critical aspects of solving a Wordle puzzle is choosing a solid starting word. A good starter word typically contains multiple vowels and some of the most common consonants (like “S”, “T”, “R”, “N”). Common choices for starters include words like “ARISE”, “CRANE”, “ADIEU”, and “RAISE.”
Using a starting word with multiple vowels helps narrow down possibilities quickly, as it gives you early clues about the vowel position or even eliminates several options. Similarly, using common consonants helps you uncover critical letters early in the game.
In the September 21, 2024 Wordle puzzle, starting with a word like “CRANE” would have helped discover the key consonant “S” in the solution. However, using words like “ARISE” or “RAISE” might have been even more useful due to the focus on vowels and common letters.
Hints Breakdown
After trying some starting words, players may have received a few hints:
- Hint 1: The word contains only one vowel. This is a crucial clue because it narrows down the possibilities significantly. In many cases, five-letter words have two vowels, but in this case, knowing there was just one meant that players could eliminate many options. Words with only one vowel often point to common words or numbers in certain cases.
- Hint 2: The word contains a repeating letter. This was a more subtle clue but an essential one for narrowing down options. Repeated letters in Wordle puzzles can throw off some players, especially if they aren’t considering that the same letter can appear more than once. It’s always good to keep in mind that the puzzle may have repeating letters, even if they aren’t in common words.
- Hint 3: The word represents a number in words. This clue directed players toward a category of words — numbers — and dramatically reduced the options for what the solution could be. There aren’t too many five-letter words that represent numbers, so if you were thinking along these lines, you likely guessed the word quite quickly.
Solving Process
Armed with these hints, players could have gone through a process of elimination. Starting with words that fit the first hint, many players might have considered five-letter words with only one vowel. Popular guesses like “CRISP”, “FROST”, or “STORM” might have come to mind initially. However, none of these fit all the criteria.
The next major clue, the repeating letter, might have steered players toward words with double letters. Words like “SEEMS” or “STEEP” could have been tested, but they didn’t match the final hint about the word being a number.
Finally, the third hint, a number in words, helped refine the guesses further. The correct solution became more obvious once players realized they were looking for a number word.
The Answer
The answer to Wordle #1190 on September 21, 2024, was SEVEN.
The word SEVEN perfectly fit all the given hints. It contains only one vowel, the letter “E”, which appears twice, making it the repeating letter. Additionally, it is a number in words, satisfying the final hint.
For players who guessed methodically, the solution would have come after testing various potential words and considering the repeated “E” and the number-related theme.
Analysis of the Word
Let’s take a closer look at why the word SEVEN might have tripped up some players. Despite being a common number word, SEVEN isn’t always the first number that comes to mind for many players when thinking of five-letter words. Words like “THREE”, “NINE”, and “FIVE” might appear to be more intuitive guesses. The repeating “E” might have also thrown off some players, especially if they weren’t considering the possibility of double letters. However, for players who thought along the lines of numbers early on, this puzzle would have been easier to solve.
Tips for Future Wordle Games
Now that we’ve discussed the September 21, 2024 Wordle puzzle, let’s look at some strategies and tips for improving your performance in future games:
- Start with Vowel-Rich Words: Using words with multiple vowels (like “ADIEU” or “ARISE”) in your first attempt can help you quickly narrow down possible solutions. This strategy is especially helpful in puzzles where the word contains multiple vowels or in cases where you can eliminate many incorrect vowel options early.
- Consider Common Consonants: Words with common consonants (like “S”, “T”, “R”, “N”) should be prioritized, especially in your first few guesses. This will give you clues about the consonants in the solution and help you avoid wasting guesses on less likely letters.
- Don’t Forget About Double Letters: Many players overlook the possibility of repeating letters. However, repeating letters are common in Wordle solutions, so always keep this option in mind if you’re stuck.
- Test Different Word Categories: In some puzzles, the solution may come from a particular category of words, such as animals, colors, or numbers. Once you notice a trend in the puzzle’s feedback, focus your guesses on words that fit within that category.
- Use Process of Elimination: Wordle is as much a game of logic as it is of vocabulary. Once you start eliminating possibilities through the game’s feedback, narrow your focus and only test words that fit the clues provided.
- Stay Calm Under Pressure: Wordle allows for six guesses, so don’t panic if you don’t get the answer right away. Use each guess strategically, and always keep track of the feedback to guide your future guesses.
The Wordle puzzle for September 21, 2024, was both challenging and rewarding, with the word SEVEN stumping many players before they successfully solved it. By focusing on the hints provided — such as the single vowel, the repeated letter, and the number theme — players were able to deduce the correct answer. Wordle continues to captivate players with its simple yet clever design, pushing them to think critically and creatively with each daily puzzle.
As players continue to refine their Wordle strategies, keeping these tips and approaches in mind can help improve performance in future games. Whether you’re a casual player or a seasoned Wordle veteran, each puzzle offers a unique challenge that keeps the game exciting day after day.