Fans of Wordle faced a challenging puzzle today that left even seasoned players stumped. Puzzle No. 1,644, published by The New York Times on December 19, featured an uncommon letter combination and a repeated consonant that made the five-letter word more difficult to guess than the average daily challenge.
Players who rely on traditional vowel-heavy starting words encountered early confusion, as the solution contains only one “sometimes vowel,” leaving limited paths to the correct answer. Many took to social media to share their frustration and compare scores, noting that unusual consonant placement created additional difficulty.
Ahead of revealing the answer, Wordle enthusiasts shared strategic hints to guide stuck players. Clues pointed toward a repeated letter, a beginning letter of M, and an ending letter of H. Another hint connected the answer to one of the gifts presented to the infant Jesus in the biblical nativity story, which helped narrow down the possibilities dramatically.
For those still working through attempts and avoiding spoilers, the clues underscored that lateral thinking and recognition of less common vocabulary could unlock the answer more efficiently than the standard vowel-first approach.
The official answer for Wordle 1644 is MYRRH.
The unique spelling, double consonants, and lack of traditional vowels are factors that contributed to the challenge. The word also appears infrequently in modern daily language, which increases difficulty for many players.
Wordle continues to maintain a global fan base due to daily variability, vocabulary learning, and social comparison. Even veteran players reported higher attempt counts today, reinforcing that occasional difficult puzzles add novelty and unpredictability to the experience.
Players tracking patterns will note that recent puzzles have included more unconventional solutions. Recent answers include:
Dec. 18, No. 1643: RUGBY
Dec. 17, No. 1642: GRASS
Dec. 16, No. 1641: SEGUE
Dec. 15, No. 1640: DODGY
Dec. 14, No. 1639: SWING
These examples highlight a trend toward mix-ups between simple vocabulary and more challenging linguistic structures, encouraging players to diversify strategies and starter words.
Experts suggest rotating through consonant-heavy starters or statistically common combinations when puzzles lean toward repeated letters or limited vowels. Tracking letter frequencies and studying uncommon letter pairings, such as “RRH,” may enhance success for future complex rounds.
As daily participation continues, Wordle remains a cultural staple for puzzle lovers seeking quick, stimulating mental play. Whether solved in three guesses or six, today’s edition reminded players of the unpredictability that made the game a global sensation.
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