It's a new day, which means Wordle is back with yet another daily puzzle—and Newsweek has all the tips and tricks you need to help you with your winning streak.
When New York-based software developer Josh Wardle first developed the word-based puzzle during the coronavirus lockdown, as he simply wanted a game "for me and my partner to enjoy," he surely had no notion he was about to launch a global sensation.
However, after Wardle released the game to the public in October 2021, it quickly developed a passionate following, with some players taking to social media each day to share their scores and tips.
After its public debut, Wordle exploded from 90 users on November 1, 2021 to 300,000 on January 2, 2022, according to figures by Statista. In January 2022, The New York Times purchased Wordle for an undisclosed low seven-figure sum, though the game remained free to play.
If you are new to the game, it's simple to play. Players need to work out a mystery five-letter word in six guesses or fewer and are guided by a color-coded tile system to let them know if they are on the right track. A green tile means the letter is correct, while yellow tells you the letter appears in the word but is in the wrong spot. Finally, a gray tile shows that the letter does not appear in the word at all.
Wardle said why he chose to use five-letter words for Wordle in an interview with Newsweek in January 2022.
"There is a reason that every word is five letters long and that you are allowed six attempts to guess it," Wardle said. "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."
If you need a hand solving today's Wordle brainteaser, Newsweek has put together a few hints to help you out. But, be warned; the answer appears further down in the article, so scroll with caution if you want to work it out yourself.
'Wordle' #1,066, Clues for Monday, May 20
Hint #1: Today's answer is an adjective and adverb.
Hint #2: There are two vowels in this word.
Hint #3: There are no duplicated letters in today's Wordle.
Hint #4: Today's word begins with the letter "N."
Hint #5: The answer is a comparative version of another word.
'Wordle' #1,066 Answer for Monday, May 20
The answer to today's Wordle is "nicer," a comparative form of "nice." The word can be used when someone wants to describe something as being better or kinder than something else.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary says that "nice" is defined as "polite, kind" and "pleasing, agreeable."
Congratulations if you got the answer right, but if you didn't, there is no need to worry. Wardle previously told Newsweek that he usually needs four or five attempts before getting it right.
"[My partner] and I play it on the couch together each morning," Wardle said. "She will consistently get it in three goes, which is way, way better than I can ever hope to achieve. I normally need at least four or five attempts."
Wordle is released at midnight in your local time zone. Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips for each new game.
While you wait for the next game, why not give the geography guessing game Worldle or other word puzzles such as Typochondria a try?
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Billie is a Newsweek Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter based in London, U.K. She reports on film and TV, trending ... Read more
