Wordle has been a sensation for more than two years, continuing to challenge word puzzle enthusiasts daily.
Developed by Josh Wardle, a software engineer based in Brooklyn, the game was originally a gift for his girlfriend who loved word games. Initially intended for the couple’s own enjoyment during COVID lockdowns, Wardle soon recognized its broader appeal and launched Wordle online in October 2021.
The game’s popularity skyrocketed within months, growing from 91 players in November 2021 to more than 2 million by January 2022. This rapid growth caught the attention of The New York Times, which acquired it for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Today, Wordle remains the newspaper’s most popular word game. What drives its enduring success? Wardle attributes it to the game’s format of five-letter words and six guesses.
“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,” he told Newsweek in January 2022.
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“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 accomplishment.”
Another key to Wordle‘s appeal is its one-puzzle-a-day format.
“The idea to impose a limitation came when my partner and I started getting into crosswords during the pandemic. In particular, The New York Times has this puzzle called Spelling Bee, which has this once-a-day model that I thought was really effective.
“I liked the idea that everyone around the world was trying to solve the exact same word at the exact same time. It created a shared communal experience. [If] there were multiple puzzles to solve and everyone was at a different stage, then there wouldn’t be that kind of conversation, which I think is the most fulfilling part of Wordle.”
If Monday’s Wordle puzzle has you stumped, Newsweek has compiled a few hints to assist you.
Wordle #1,248, Hints for Monday, November 18 Game
Hint #1: It can refer to both people and objects that lack strength.
Hint #2: The answer has no repeated letters.
Hint #3: It contains two vowels.
Hint #4: It is often used to describe health or physical condition.
Hint #5: The word begins with the letter “F.”
Wordle #1,248, Answer for Monday, November 18 Game
Monday’s Wordle answer is “Frail.”
If you didn’t guess it right, then you can try again when Wordle resets at midnight in your time zone.
While you wait, why not give these other popular online word puzzle games a go?