Puzzled over today’s Wordle? You’re likely not alone—it was a tough one to crack.
The popular word-based game was invented by Brooklyn-based engineer Josh Wardle. He came up with Wordle, whose name is a play on his surname, for him and his partner to enjoy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The brainteaser was released in October 2021, and by the following January, The New York Times had purchased it for a steep fee.
In an interview with Newsweek in 2022, Wardle said “the most fulfilling part of Wordle” is “that everyone around the world was trying to solve the exact same word at the exact same time,” which created “a shared communal experience.”
He added that the puzzle “won’t allow you to binge or get addicted.”
“In general, I’m pretty wary of apps that want to consume all of your time and maximize engagement like that,” Wardle told readers at the time. “I just don’t think that stuff’s very nice to do to other people quite frankly.”
In fact, “most people can solve a Wordle puzzle in about 5 minutes and then forget about it.”
If you’re not one of those people though, don’t sweat it. Keep scrolling for Newsweek‘s top tips for #1,371, but be warned: The answer will also be revealed at the end of the article, so if you’d like to work it out for yourself, we suggest you scroll with caution.
How To Play ‘Wordle’
The aim of the game is for players to guess a five-letter word, which changes daily. As you enter a letter into a block, its color will change. Green means it is the right letter in the right place; yellow means you have the right letter, but it’s in the wrong place; and gray means the letter is not included in the word at all.
Don’t worry, though, the game isn’t timed.
‘Wordle’ #1,371, Clues for Friday, March 21
Newsweek‘s clues for today’s Wordle are:
Hint #1: It starts with the letter “N.”
Hint #2: There are no repeated letters.
Hint #3: The answer is one syllable.
Hint #4: “Brush” is a synonym.
Hint #5: It rhymes with “fudge.”
Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock / Getty Images Plus
‘Wordle’ #1,371, Answer for Friday, March 21
The answer to today’s puzzle is “Nudge.”
Merriam-Webster defines the term as “to touch or push gently, especially: to seek the attention of by a push of the elbow” and “to prod lightly: urge into action.”
Super job if you guessed today’s word correctly. But don’t fret if you didn’t. Wordle is released at midnight in your local time zone, which means you will get another chance to play on Saturday.
For the time being, why not try one of these other popular word-based games?