A New Day, A New Wordle: Your Guide to the Daily Puzzle

Introduction to Wordle: The Daily Word Game That’s Got Everyone Hooked

A new day brings a new Wordle, and for many of us, it’s a challenge we eagerly anticipate. If you’re struggling to crack the code, don’t worry—Newsweek is here to help! Wordle, created by software engineer Josh Wardle during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a global phenomenon. Initially designed as a way to keep Wardle and his partner entertained, the game quickly gained popularity and was released to the public in October 2021. By January 2022, it was acquired by The New York Times, though the exact cost of the acquisition remains a secret.

The game’s simple yet engaging premise—guessing a five-letter word in six attempts or fewer—has made it a favorite for millions. Each guess provides feedback through a color-coded system: green for correct letters in the right place, yellow for correct letters in the wrong spot, and gray for letters that aren’t in the word at all. And the best part? There’s no timer, so you can take your time to think through each guess.

The Origins of Wordle: From a Pandemic Hobby to a Global Sensation

Josh Wardle, the mastermind behind Wordle, never imagined his simple word game would become a cultural phenomenon. He created it during the pandemic as a way to pass time and bond with his partner, who loved word games. However, once he shared it with friends and family, its appeal became clear. By October 2021, Wardle decided to release Wordle to the public, and it quickly went viral.

Fast-forward three months, and The New York Times snapped up the game, recognizing its potential to captivate audiences worldwide. Despite its new ownership, Wardle’s vision for Wordle has remained intact: a free, accessible game that brings people together through a shared challenge. Wordle’s success lies in its simplicity and the sense of accomplishment that comes with solving the daily puzzle.

How to Play Wordle: A Step-by-Step Guide

Wordle is deceptively straightforward, but there’s strategy involved if you want to maximize your chances of success. Here’s how it works:

1. The Goal: Guess the daily five-letter word in six attempts or fewer.
2. The Feedback System: After each guess, the tiles will change color to give you clues.
   • Green: The letter is correct and in the correct position.
   • Yellow: The letter is in the word but not in the right spot.
   • Gray: The letter is not in the word at all.
3. No Time Limit: Take as much time as you need to think through your guesses.

The game’s color-coded system is designed to help you narrow down the possibilities. For example, if you see a green tile, you know that letter is fixed in that position, so you can focus on the remaining letters. Yellow tiles give you a hint that the letter is in the word but needs to be moved, while gray tiles eliminate letters from consideration entirely.

Expert Tips for Solving Wordle: Strategies from the Creator and a Linguistics Expert

While Wordle is a game of luck and vocabulary, there are strategies to improve your chances of success. In a 2022 interview with Newsweek, Josh Wardle shared his reluctance to dictate how people should play but offered some advice:
"One thing I will say is that a lot of people tend to think that the game is just about finding those green and yellow letters. If you get those, then you theoretically have the information you need, but you don’t want to get too hung up on that."

In other words, while it’s tempting to focus on uncovering green and yellow tiles, don’t get stuck on a single approach. Keep an open mind and be willing to try new strategies.

Noël Wolf, a linguistics expert and Babbel Live teacher, also weighed in with advice for players. In a separate Newsweek interview, Wolf emphasized the importance of being strategic with your second guess. "As hard as it might seem—especially if you have a few correct letters in your first word—using a completely separate set of letters, where possible, will help eliminate more possibilities in fewer guesses," Wolf said.

For example, if your first guess is “apple” and you get a yellow tile for the letter “p” and gray tiles for the rest, consider using a second guess like “brick” to test entirely new letters. This approach can help you quickly narrow down the possibilities and increase your chances of solving the puzzle.

Today’s Wordle: Hints, Clues, and the Answer for February 15

If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle puzzle, don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! Here are five hints for Wordle #1,337, released on Saturday, February 15.

• Hint #1: The word starts with the letter “C.”
• Hint #2: There is a repeated letter.
• Hint #3: The answer rhymes with “book.”
• Hint #4: The word can be a verb, noun, or adjective.
• Hint #5: It has only one syllable.

With these clues in mind, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to figure out the word. But if you’re still struggling, here’s the answer:

The Wordle for February 15 is “Crook.”

According to Merriam-Webster, “crook” has multiple definitions depending on its usage:

• As a verb, it means “to bend” or “to curve.”
• As a noun, it can refer to a shepherd’s staff or a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices.
• As an adjective, it can mean “dishonest,” “irritable,” or “ill.”

Whether you guessed it correctly or not, don’t be discouraged. Wordle is released at midnight in your local time zone, so you’ll have another chance to play on Sunday, February 16.

Beyond Wordle: Other Popular Word Games to Try

If you’re hooked on Wordle, there’s good news: there are plenty of other word games you can try to satisfy your love for puzzles and language challenges.

1. Quordle: If you thought Wordle was challenging, Quordle takes it up a notch by requiring you to guess four words simultaneously.
2. Lingo: This game gives you six chances to guess a five-letter word, but it adds a twist by allowing you to see letters that are in the word but not necessarily in the correct position.