Coronavirus lockdowns were a miserable time for most people but for Josh Wardle, it began a process that would completely change his life.
Wardle, a New York-based software engineer, used the time to create Wordle, which is a game he designed to keep his crossword-loving partner entertained.
Once he realized that other people might enjoy solving Wordle's daily brainteasers, he uploaded the puzzle online so it was accessible to everyone.
Following its debut, the word game exploded from 90 users on November 1, 2021, to 300,000 on January 2, 2022, according to figures by Statista. Thanks to its popularity, The New York Times bought it in early 2022 for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
Wordle is very simple to play, doubtless helping explain how the game became a viral sensation so quickly. A different puzzle goes live every day at midnight, your local time, with players having to try and figure out the five-letter word of the day. People get a maximum of six attempts to solve the puzzle by typing in what they think the answer could be.
There is a system that will help you try and find the answer, you simply have to start by guessing a word. The letters will turn green if they're correct and in the right position, yellow if you have the right letter in the wrong place, or gray if the letter isn't in the day's word at all.
In a January 2022 interview with Newsweek, Wardle provided some tips for Wordle players.
"One thing I will say is that a lot of people tend to think that the game is just about finding those green and gold letters. If you get those, then you theoretically have the information you need, but you don't want to get too hung up on that," he said.
"Even when you have most of the letters, it's still worth using a couple of tries to just narrow down the options further. It's often just as important to learn what letters aren't in a word. That information can actually be more powerful in a lot of ways, and you don't necessarily realize it at first."
If you're struggling figuring out today's puzzle, you've come to the right place. 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.
'Wordle' #958, Clues for Friday, February 2
Newsweek has gathered a few clues to help you solve today's Wordle.
Hint #1: The answer is an noun and an adjective.
Hint #2: Today's answer only has one vowel.
Hint #3: There are no repeated letters in today's puzzle.
Hint #4: You might think of lips and mouths when you think of this word.
Hint #5: It begins with the letter "C."
'Wordle' #958, Answer for Friday, February 2
The answer to today's Wordle puzzle is "Cleft."
According to Merriam-Webster, the noun definition of cleft is "a space or opening made by or as if by splitting" and "a usually V-shaped indented formation: a hollow between ridges or protuberances." The adjective definition is "partially split or divided."
How many tries did it take for you to guess today's answer? According to Wordsrated, Wordle players typically solve the daily puzzles on their fourth try. Some have managed winning streaks of over 500 games, with "S" the most common starting letter.
Do you have a good tip for the best starting words when playing Wordle? Share them with us by emailing: entertainment@newsweek.com.
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
