Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1790, and this Thursday challenge opens with a tricky W, an uncommon starter that could rattle players who lean on vowel-heavy openers. Whether you're protecting a legendary streak or starting fresh, we've got the hints to guide you home.
The Basics (For New Players)
Wordle gives you six attempts to crack a five-letter word. After each guess, tiles change color: green means right letter, right spot; yellow signals right letter, wrong position; gray indicates the letter isn't in the word at all. One puzzle per day, shared by millions worldwide. That's the beauty of it.
Created by Josh Wardle in 2021 and now part of The New York Times Games family, Wordle has become a daily ritual for word lovers everywhere. Today's puzzle #1790 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 2 (A, E)
Consonant Count: 3 (W, V, R)
Repeated Letters: No
Letter Rarity: W is an uncommon starting letter, only about 3% of Wordle answers begin with W, but the remaining letters are all common
The Elimination Game (Progressive Hints)
We've designed these hints to reveal just enough at each level. Stop when you've got it figured out.
Level 1 (The Vibe): Think uncertainty, a decision hanging in the balance.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a verb. It describes losing conviction or faltering under pressure.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with W, ends with R.
Level 4 (The Structure): The two vowels sit in positions 2 and 4. No double letters.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): To become unsteady or indecisive; to fluctuate between choices.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: W
Last Letter: R
Vowels Present: A, E
Double Letters: No
Rhymes With: SHAVER, CRAVER, SAVER
Today's Wordle Answer
Final warning: The answer is directly below. Scroll only if you're ready.
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The answer to Wordle #1790 is: WAVER
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
WAVER is a verb meaning to be indecisive, irresolute, or unsteady, to falter in purpose or opinion. It can also function as a noun describing an act of wavering.
Origins: Derived from Old Norse "vafra" (to flicker or move unsteadily), related to Old English "wafian" (to wave the hands in hesitation). The word shares roots with "wave," suggesting the back-and-forth motion of indecision.
Word Family: wavered, wavering, waverer, unwavering
Fun Fact: "Waver" is one of only about 150 Wordle answers that start with W, placing it in an exclusive club. The W-start is statistically one of the hardest letters to open with, making this puzzle a genuine test of letter elimination skills.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 3 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The W start will punish players who rely on common openers like CRANE, SLATE, or ADIEU, none of which test the first letter. If you're still swinging at vowels by guess four, you're in trouble.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
This puzzle sits squarely in the middle of the difficulty scale. The letters themselves are common, A, E, V, R are all familiar, but the W opener requires either a diverse starting word (something like SWORD or WEARY) or strong elimination strategy. Players who open with AUDIO or ADIEU will waste critical guesses on vowels that don't appear in positions they expect.
What This Puzzle Teaches
Start words matter most when the first letter is uncommon. If your go-to opener is all consonants, you'd have hit W early. If it's vowel-heavy, you'd be scrambling. This puzzle rewards players who vary their openers, or who have a solid second-guess strategy when the first letter turns up gray.
The V in position 3 is another subtle trap. V appears in only about 5% of Wordle answers, so a yellow V mid-board can stall momentum. Smart players will lock in the vowel positions (A at 2, E at 4) before hunting the consonants, W-A-V-E-R is a classic alternating vowel pattern once you see it.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1791 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's WAVER catch you off guard, or did you crack it in three? Either way, every Wordle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at midnight for the next challenge.
