Today's
NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1656, and this Wednesday challenge delivers a common-sounding word with a mythological twist that could trip up pattern recognition. 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 #1656 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 2 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 3 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: No
Letter Rarity: All common letters
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 warning signals and mythological temptations.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something that demands attention through sound or allure.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with S, ends with N.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels sit in positions 2 and 4.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A loud warning device or a creature from Greek mythology known for enchanting songs.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: S
Last Letter: N
Vowels Present: I, E
Double Letters: NO
Rhymes With: IRON, BYRON, LION
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 #1656 is: SIREN
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
SIREN noun. A device that produces a loud, penetrating warning sound, or a mythological creature from Greek lore known for luring sailors with enchanting songs.
Origins: Derived from Greek "Seirēn," meaning "entangler" or "binder," referring to the mythological creatures who bound sailors with their songs.
Word Family: sirens, sirenian, sirenlike, sirenize
Fun Fact: The word appears in only 0.03% of Wordle answers, making it a relatively rare solution despite its common letters.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The common letters and familiar sound mask its mythological connection, which could throw off players expecting a more modern meaning.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
This puzzle sits at medium difficulty because while all letters are common, the word's dual meanings (warning device vs. mythological creature) create cognitive friction. Players who focus on modern contexts might overlook the mythological angle, while those expecting classical words might miss the contemporary warning device meaning. The vowel-consonant pattern (CVCVC) is standard, but the specific vowel placement in positions 2 and 4 can be tricky to nail down.
What This Puzzle Teaches
When common letters yield unexpected results, expand your semantic categories. "SIREN" demonstrates that Wordle answers can bridge ancient mythology and modern technology - if your guesses aren't landing, consider shifting between different domains of meaning rather than just testing letter combinations.
The CVCVC pattern (consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel-consonant) with vowels in positions 2 and 4 appears in many Wordle solutions. Recognizing this structure early - especially with common consonants like S, R, N - can dramatically narrow your search space after just two or three guesses.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1657 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's SIREN 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.
