The rules have never changed and are simple enough that even those without experience with word puzzles can play. Each day the player is tasked with working out a new five letter word, in six attempts or less.
Helpfully, after each attempt the letters light up, indicating how accurate the guess was. If a letter goes green, it is both in the word and in the correct place. Yellow indicates the letter is in the answer, but has been put in the wrong order, whilst gray means it isn’t included at all.
Speaking to Newsweek in January, Wardle revealed why he set the rules as he did.
Wardle said: “There is a reason that every word is five letters long and that you are allowed six attempts to guess it. That might seem arbitrary but, with the prototype version, I tested different word lengths and experimented with the number of tries that players were allowed.
“Through that process of refinement, I figured out that five letters and six tries was the ideal sweet spot. It’s just limited enough to feel challenging and to make you think, but most of the time people still manage to solve it. So, you feel a real sense of real accomplishment.”
Also in January, Wordle was purchased by The New York Times for a seven-figure sum.
The game’s success has helped inspire a number of other online puzzles, such as number based Nerdle and geography inspired Worldle.
The answer to today’s puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself. To help you solve today’s Wordle, Newsweek has provided some hints and tips on the latest puzzle.
‘Wordle’ #494 Tips and Clues for Wednesday, October 26
Wordle players can use these five hints to solve puzzle #494:
Hint #1: The word contains no repeated letters.
Hint #2: There are two vowels, as the third and fourth letters.
Hint #3: Synonyms for today’s word include “defy,” “disregard” and “mock.”
Hint #4: Cambridge University Dictionary defines today’s answer as “to intentionally not obey a rule, law, or custom.”
Hint #5: None of the first four letters in the alphabet feature.
‘Wordle’ #494 Answer for Wednesday, October 26
The answer to today’s Wordle is “flout.”
We think we can agree Wordle served up a real puzzle today. Having two vowels helped, but they are some of the least used and the word itself is a little unusual. Did you get it? If so, congratulations! If not, don’t worry—Newsweek will be here again tomorrow with more hints and tips for the next brainteaser!
The next Wordle puzzle will be available at 7 p.m. ET, when the daily update occurs.
