Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1658, and this Friday challenge serves up a common word with a double vowel 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 #1658 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 2 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 3 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: Yes - the letter O appears twice
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 verification and certainty.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something that establishes truth or validity.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with P, ends with F.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels are both O, positioned in the middle (positions 3 and 4).
Level 5 (The Giveaway): Evidence or demonstration that something is true.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: P
Last Letter: F
Vowels Present: O, O
Double Letters: YES
Rhymes With: ROOF, GOOF, HOOF
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 #1658 is: PROOF
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
PROOF noun. Evidence or argument establishing a fact or the truth of a statement.
Origins: From Old French "preuve", from Late Latin "proba", from Latin "probare" meaning "to test, prove".
Word Family: prove, provable, proven, proofread, proofing
Fun Fact: The word appears in multiple specialized contexts including mathematics (mathematical proof), printing (proof copy), and alcohol (proof as a measure of alcoholic strength).
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The double O could confuse players who don't consider repeated vowels early.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
PROOF presents a moderate challenge with all common letters but a double vowel pattern that trips up some solvers. The starting P is common, and the word structure is straightforward once you recognize the repeated O. Players who eliminate vowels early will have an advantage.
What This Puzzle Teaches
Double vowels teach players to consider repeated letters early in the solving process. Many solvers overlook the possibility of duplicate vowels, especially when they're the same letter.
Common starting letter P rewards standard openers like "PLATE" or "PRICE" that include this frequent initial consonant. The word's familiarity makes it accessible but the double O adds a layer of pattern recognition challenge.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1659 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's PROOF 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.
