The New York Times’ Wordle puzzle for December 31, 2023 (#1656) has been solved. For players seeking assistance, this article provides hints and the final answer. The game’s enduring popularity suggests a wider trend: simple, daily challenges attract large audiences, particularly when integrated into established platforms like the NYT Games suite.
Today’s Clues
To help players without giving away the solution immediately, these hints are provided in increasing detail:
- No Repeated Letters: Today’s answer contains no duplicate letters.
- Two Vowels: The word includes two vowel sounds.
- First Letter: The solution begins with the letter “S.”
- Last Letter: The word ends with the letter “N.”
- Meaning: The answer describes a loud, often mechanical device used for signaling or warning.
The Answer
The Wordle answer for today is SIREN.
Previous Solutions
For context, here are the solutions from recent days:
- December 30 (#1655): DECOR
- December 26 (#1651): SPEED
- December 27 (#1652): BATCH
- December 28 (#1653): ABBOT
- December 29 (#1654): FRUIT
The Future of Wordle: A Finite Word List
Wordle ‘s long-term viability is a growing concern. Creator Josh Wardle initially chose words from a curated list. Editor Tracy Bennett has acknowledged that the pool of unused five-letter words is shrinking.
“One possibility is that we could recycle old words at some point, like when we get close to the end,” Bennett stated.
Possible solutions include re-using previous words, accepting plurals or past tense forms (which are currently excluded), or even expanding to six-letter words. The game’s creators face a trade-off between maintaining novelty and ensuring the puzzle’s continuation. The fact that half the original word list has been used raises questions about the game’s lifespan.
The longevity of Wordle depends on how its developers address this finite word problem. Their choices will determine whether the game remains a fresh daily challenge or eventually becomes repetitive.
