It’s more than a year since Josh Wardle, a New York software developer, first released Wordle to the public in October 2021, yet the game’s extraordinary popularity shows few signs of abating.
Speaking to Newsweek in January Wardle said: “When I designed the game, it was for me and my partner to enjoy, so I made sure that all of the entries were randomized. In other words, I don’t actually know what tomorrow’s word is going to be, which means that I can take part like everybody else.”
That same month Wordle was brought by the New York Times for an undisclosed seven figure fee.
Erhan Aslan, associate professor of applied linguistics at the University of Reading in the U.K., told Newsweek that digital technology had facilitated Wordle’s viral spread.
Brandon Bell/GETTY
He said: “Word-based puzzles and games have been around for quite a while, and they are nothing new. What is different or new today is how and where people play games. Before the digital age, word puzzle games, particularly crossword puzzles, would usually appear in newspapers and magazines. People would do them while waiting for the bus or train, in the toilet, or just to kill time.
“In today’s digital age, like many other things, many simple games like Wordle can be played online. I think that Wordle gains its popularity not only from its simple rules but also from its virality on social media platforms as a result of people sharing/posting their scores to demonstrate a sense of accomplishment and validation.”
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. To help you solve today’s Wordle, Newsweek has provided some hints and tips on the latest game.
‘Wordle’ #550 Tips and Clues for Wednesday, December 21
Wordle players can use these five hints to solve puzzle #550.
Hint #1: There are two vowels.
Hint #2: According to thesaurus.com words associated with today’s answer include “celestial” and “solar.”
Hint #3: The second and fourth letters are vowels.
Hint #4: Think Apollo 11.
Hint #5: There is no ‘I’ in team. The same applies to today’s answer.
‘Wordle’ #550 Answer for Wednesday, December 21
The answer to today’s Wordle is “lunar.”
Did you get it? If so, congratulations. But please don’t worry if not—one of the best things about Wordle is seeing if you can improve your performance over time. Either way, we hope to see you again tomorrow when Newsweek will provide another round of hints and tips.
What Does ‘Lunar’ Mean?
The Cambridge University Dictionary defines “lunar” as ” of or relating to the moon.”
For example “the lunar surface.”
The next Wordle puzzle will be available at 7 p.m. ET, when the daily update occurs.
Comments are closed.