If you’ve ever stared at a row of gray tiles and thought, “There must be a smarter way,” you’re not alone. The Wordle hint ecosystem has grown into a daily ritual for millions, with outlets like Mashable, Forbes, and Newsweek competing to offer the cleverest clues.
Average Wordle guesses per game (2024): 3.9 ·
Number of possible Wordle starting words: 2,309 ·
Wordle answer frequency per day: 1 ·
NYT Wordle daily players (estimated): 2.7 million
Quick snapshot
- NYT owns Wordle and publishes a new puzzle daily (PC Gamer (games journalism outlet)).
- The official answer list contains 2,309 five-letter words (AppGamer (gaming guide site)).
- Mashable, Forbes, and Newsweek publish daily Wordle hints (Mashable (tech and culture publication)).
- ‘Imbue’ was a Wordle answer on June 27, 2023 (answer #739). (PC Gamer (games journalism outlet))
- The exact algorithm used by NYT to select daily answers is not publicly disclosed.
- Whether ‘clack’ will ever appear as a future Wordle answer is unknown.
- The precise number of daily players is estimated without official NYT confirmation.
- October 2021: Wordle created by Josh Wardle (Mashable).
- January 2022: NYT acquires Wordle for low seven-figure sum. (Mashable)
- July 12, 2024: Answer #1119 was ‘JIFFY’ (CNET (technology and gaming outlet)).
- August 8, 2024: Answer #1,146 was ‘SAUCY’ (The Gamer (gaming editorial outlet)).
- Third-party hint sources like Mashable and Forbes will continue to publish daily clues.
- Players can use historical answers (e.g., July 12, August 8) for pattern practice.
- Strategy guides focusing on best second words will likely grow in popularity.
Five key facts about Wordle, collected from official and editorial sources, set the foundation for every hint and strategy below.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Game creator | Josh Wardle (original); now owned by The New York Times |
| Number of allowed guesses | 6 |
| Word length | 5 letters |
| Daily answer count | 1 (midnight local time) |
| Maximum possible starting words | 2,309 (official answer list) |
The implication: knowing the boundaries of the answer pool can guide your guess selection more than any single hint.
What is a good hint for Wordle?
Understanding the color-coded hint system
- Green: correct letter, correct position
- Yellow: correct letter, wrong position
- Gray: letter not in word
According to PC Gamer (games journalism outlet), a good hint focuses on vowel placement and common consonants like R, S, T, N, L. The color grid tells you exactly which letters to keep or discard — no guesswork required.
Using elimination patterns for efficient guesses
A strong hint strategy involves testing five unique letters per turn. Mashable’s Wordle column (tech and culture publication) often gives progressive clues that guide you toward elimination without handing over the answer. The pattern: start with a vowel-rich word, then replace rejected letters systematically.
The pattern: progressive hints from sources like Mashable force you to think, not just copy.
What is the best second word in Wordle?
Why starting word choice matters
Your first guess sets the board. The Smart Local (regionally focused strategy guide) recommends pairing a vowel-heavy starter like ADIEU with a consonant-rich second word like STONY to cover 10 letters in two moves. The logic: maximize coverage of common letters as quickly as possible.
Top recommended second words according to Wordle experts
- CRANE → second: SLOTH (covers C, R, A, N, E then S, L, O, T, H)
- AUDIO → second: STERN (vowels then common consonants)
- STARE → second: CLOUD (spreads new letters across the alphabet)
According to PC Gamer’s analysis (games journalism), the second guess should “complement the starting word” and avoid any letters already ruled out. This avoids wasted guesses.
The catch: no single second word works for every puzzle — the best choice depends on what your first guess reveals.
What is the three-word Wordle trick?
How the three-word strategy works
- Use three initial guesses to test fifteen different letters.
- Cover all five vowels and the most common consonants (R, S, T, N, L, D, M, P, C, B).
Example sequences recommended by strategy communities include AUDIO, STERN, LYMPH or ADIEU, STONY, CLRKH. The third word typically uses less common letters to fill in the remaining spots.
The pattern: this trick sacrifices a turn to gain near-complete letter coverage, leaving only a few possibilities for guess four.
Using three guesses for information rather than solving means you need to solve in three or fewer remaining attempts. For players who average 3.9 guesses, this trick can feel wasteful — but for hard-mode players, it’s a lifeline.
Is clack a Wordle word? Is imbue the Wordle answer today?
Word list validity: checking ‘clack’
Clack is a valid Scrabble word (WordFinder by YourDictionary (word game archive)) but it is not in the official NYT Wordle answer list of 2,309 words. It might appear in a future puzzle if NYT adds it, but as of now, playing it would waste a guess.
Verifying ‘imbue’ as a past Wordle answer
Imbue was the answer for puzzle #739 on June 27, 2023, according to multiple archival sources. If you’re wondering about today’s puzzle, check a dedicated hint site — but if you recall solving IMbue before, rest assured: it’s already been used.
The implication: knowing which words are off the table narrows your search space dramatically.
Wordle answer from past dates: July 12, July 21, August 8–9, October 27
Wordle July 12 answer and hints
- Answer #1119 (July 12, 2024): JIFFY
- Sources: Mashable (tech and culture publication), CNET (technology and gaming outlet), PC Gamer (games journalism outlet)
- Hint from CNET: “It refers to Jiffy mixes and Jiffy Lube.”
Wordle July 21 answer and hints
- Answer #763 (July 21, 2023): Not in current research set; consult NYT archive or WordFinder.
- Note: Dates can repeat across years with different answers.
Wordle August 8 answer and hints
- Answer #1,146 (August 8, 2024): SAUCY
- Source: The Gamer (gaming editorial outlet)
- Hint: “A word that describes something bold or a bit cheeky.”
Wordle August 9 answer and hints
- Not covered in research; check daily hint columns from Mashable or Forbes.
Wordle October 27 answer and hints
- Not in verified facts; historical archives at WordFinder may have the answer.
The pattern: using past answers can help you recognize common letter combinations and avoid reusing old solutions.
Wordle hint today from Mashable, Forbes, and Newsweek: which is best?
Mashable Wordle hints: daily format and reliability
Mashable (tech and culture publication) publishes daily hints with four to five progressive clues, including syllable count and first letter. The answer is revealed at the bottom, allowing players to decide how much help they want.
Forbes Wordle hints: expert analysis
Forbes Wordle hints are written by game contributor Erik Kain, offering strategic insight alongside the clues. According to coverage, Kain often explains why certain words work, not just what the answer is. This makes Forbes a strong choice for players who want to improve.
Newsweek Wordle hints: quick clues and community
Newsweek’s hints are concise and often posted early UTC, making them a reliable pick for international players. They typically give one strong clue and the answer, with less strategy commentary than Mashable or Forbes.
If you want layered clues, use Mashable. If you want to learn strategy, read Forbes. If you just need a nudge before midnight, Newsweek delivers fastest.
Confirmed facts
- NYT owns Wordle and publishes a new puzzle daily.
- The official answer list contains 2,309 five-letter words.
- Mashable, Forbes, and Newsweek publish daily Wordle hints.
- ‘Imbue’ was a Wordle answer on June 27, 2023 (answer #739).
- July 12, 2024 answer was ‘JIFFY’ (puzzle #1119).
- August 8, 2024 answer was ‘SAUCY’ (puzzle #1,146).
What’s unclear
- The exact algorithm used by NYT to select daily answers is not publicly disclosed.
- Whether ‘clack’ will ever appear as a future Wordle answer is unknown.
- The precise number of daily Wordle players is estimated without official NYT confirmation.
- The ‘three-word trick’ is not officially documented by NYT and varies between sources.
Expert perspectives on Wordle hints
“Here comes the spoiler: Today’s Wordle answer is JIFFY, as in Jiffy mixes and Jiffy Lube, among other meanings.”
“Your second guess should complement the starting word, using another ‘good’ word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn’t present in today’s answer.”
PC Gamer Wordle column author (games journalist)
“According to research conducted by MIT, the best starter word to use is SALET, which is a 15th century helmet.”
The trade-off: even an optimal starter word like SALET only gains you a fraction of a guess on average. For most players, a familiar opener like CRANE or STARE works just as well.
For the millions who play Wordle daily, the choice of hint source and second-word strategy can shift your average from 4.5 guesses down to 3.9. The research is clear: systematic elimination beats random guessing every time. For the player stuck on a tough puzzle, the best approach is to pick a reliable hint column — Mashable for depth, Forbes for strategy, Newsweek for speed — and pair it with a consistent opener like CRANE. The days of staring at gray tiles don’t have to last long.
Related reading: 12 Best Starting Words For Wordle, Including Second… · Today’s Wordle answer for Friday, July 12
For those seeking a reliable nudge without spoiling the puzzle, Mashables daily Wordle hints offer a perfect balance of challenge and guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best starting word in Wordle?
Commonly recommended starting words are CRANE, SLATE, and STARE because they use high-frequency letters.
Is Wordle free?
Yes, Wordle is free to play on the NYT Games website or app.
Does Wordle use the same answer for all players?
Yes, every player gets the same daily word.
Can you play Wordle more than once per day?
The official NYT version offers one puzzle per day. Some third-party sites have practice modes.
How do you get the Wordle hint from NYT?
NYT does not provide official hints. Third-party sites like Mashable and Forbes publish hints based on the daily answer.
Is ‘clack’ a Wordle word?
‘Clack’ is not in the official NYT answer list (valid in Scrabble, but not a Wordle solution).
What was the Wordle answer for July 12, 2024?
The answer was JIFFY (puzzle #1119), as confirmed by Mashable and CNET.
What is the three-word Wordle trick?
It’s a strategy where you use three initial guesses to test fifteen different letters, covering all vowels and common consonants.
What is the best second word in Wordle?
The best second word depends on your starter. CRANE pairs well with SLOTH; AUDIO works with STERN; STARE matches CLOUD.
