# "Wordle," a strangely compelling word game (Part 2)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** board-card-word-game
**Created:** [March 25, 2023, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659 "2023-03-25T23:59:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 290
### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5781 "2024-02-10T14:01:09Z")
> [@chiliwillybing](#):
>
> Wonder why they chose to include just those few?
I’m guessing he just overlooked them. It was just one guy managing a list of 12,000 words; human error is bound to creep in here and there.
Also, rereading my post I like how I say how embed is not a verb. Ha! It’s not a _past tense_ verb, is what I meant.
---
### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5782 "2024-02-10T14:46:36Z")
> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> Looking at the original answers list now: cried, dried, fried, plied, pried, shied, spied and tried are all there. Also on the original answers list: bused, clued, freed, kneed. Those are the 12 past tense verbs ending in ED that appear on the original list.
So until now, we’ve been zero for 12 of these cases even though we’re about 5/12 of the way through the original list (minus whatever handful of words NYT has added that have already been used). No straight ED adds, no adding D to a verb already ending in E, no Y-\>I then adding ED. Let’s just say that’s awfully improbable - I’m getting a back of the envelope guesstimate of about 30,000 to 1 against.
I notice that those dozen cases do include one straight ED add (BUSED), which is strange because that’s the sort of case that’s still supposedly out of bounds. And it has a few cases where the root verb ends in E so only a D is added - but there are a metric ton of common words like that that aren’t on Wardle’s list then. (Are you waiting with bated breath for some examples, or has your interest waned, leaving you sated? I’d provide a long list, but I’d have hated to go to that much trouble, and I don’t know how well I’d have fared. 😉 )
---
### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5783 "2024-02-10T15:19:47Z")
Don’t forget the \_ired (fhmstw) trap.
---
### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5784 "2024-02-10T15:47:24Z")
Wordle 966 4/6
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟦
⬜⬜🟧⬜⬜
⬜🟦🟧🟦🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧
SLATE
POINT
WEIRD
FRIED - Had the same reluctance to trying this ‘ED’ word, but there didn’t seem to be much choice, given what I already knew
---
### Author:  [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5785 "2024-02-10T16:08:50Z")
Wordle 966 5/6\*
⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
🟨🟨🟨🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
LEAST
OUNCE
RIDER
DRIED
FRIED
ETA: Thanks for the explanation of - ED words, guys.
---
### Author:  [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5786 "2024-02-10T16:30:09Z")
> **Wordle 966 3/6\* 2/10/2024**
>
> ⬜⬜🟩🟨⬜
> 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟨
> 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
>
> ST **I** _F_F → Ooh, good start! We have a placed I, one and only one F, and no words with S & T. F pretty much has to be at the start. FLIRT and FLINT are out. A couple FRI- words, FRI[AE]R or FRIED, but I can check the R as well as the L with
> **F** L **IE** _R_ → Ah, well, that clinches it.
> **FRIED**
>
> About a 1 in 6 shot at a two, given Scoredle’s word list, so I’m happy. It said I made the right choice for the second guess as well, so there’s that.
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5787 "2024-02-10T17:04:55Z")
Wordle 966 5/6
⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨
⬜🟩⬜🟩⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
HEART
BONER
CRUEL
GRIEF
FRIED
---
### Author:  [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5788 "2024-02-11T02:41:36Z")
It’s what’s for dinner!
Wordle 966 2/6\*
🟨🟨⬛⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Dingo
Fried
---
### Author:  [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5789 "2024-02-11T02:46:47Z")
So annoying.
Wordle 966 4/6\*
🟨🟩⬛⬛🟨
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬛🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
IRATE
PRIED
CRIED
FRIED
Hate these stupid traps. At least I didn’t see DRIED.
---
### Author:  [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5790 "2024-02-11T04:09:48Z")
Wordle 966 3/6\*
⬜🟩⬜⬜🟨
⬜🟩🟨⬜⬜
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
TROPE
CREAM
FRIED
---
### Author:  [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5791 "2024-02-11T05:13:55Z")
Wordle 967 5/6
🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
⬜⬜🟨🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
RATIO
CRUEL
SHEER
FEVER
NEVER
---
### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5792 "2024-02-11T06:04:20Z")
[spoiler]Wordle 967 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩[/spoiler]
CHANT
SPINE
NEWER
NEVER
---
### Author:  [@SeaSun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaSun)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5793 "2024-02-11T06:54:40Z")
**Wordle 966 6/6**
⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨
🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
SLATE
CHOIR
REIGN
DRIED
PRIED
FRIED
Stupid game today. Not a fan of the past tense word, much less _another_ F. 🙄 I haven’t had a 6 since June 2023…could have gone with a sleuth at guess #4 to guarantee a 5, but thought I’d take my chances instead since there wasn’t a chance to fail. Just didn’t go my way.
---
### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5794 "2024-02-11T08:52:04Z")
Wordle 967 5/6
⬛⬛🟨🟨🟨
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
🟩🟩🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
**STERN**
**MOLDY**
**WHICH**
**NERVE**
**NEVER**
---
### Author:  [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5795 "2024-02-11T09:21:03Z")
Wordle 967 4/6\*
\begin{aligned} &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt B} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt A} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt D} \\ &\bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt L} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt I} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt C} \\ &\bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt S} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \bbox[yellow,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt V} \bbox[silver,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt O} \\ &\bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt N} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt V} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt E} \bbox[lime,5px,border:1px solid black]{\texttt R} \\ \end{aligned}
---
### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5796 "2024-02-11T11:50:25Z")
Wordle 967 4/6
⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜ 584
⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨 46
🟨⬜⬜🟩🟨 8
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
SLANT
CHORE
RIPEN
NEVER - could’ve also been NEWER; UNDER had already been used
---
### Author:  [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5797 "2024-02-11T12:59:01Z")
Wordle 967 4/6\*
⬛⬛⬛🟦🟦
⬛⬛🟦⬛🟦
🟧⬛⬛🟧🟧
🟧🟧🟧🟧🟧
ALONE
STEIN
NUDER
NEVER
---
### Author:  [@chiliwillybing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiliwillybing)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5798 "2024-02-11T13:32:18Z")
Wordle 967 4/6
🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨
⬜⬜⬜🟩🟩
⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
RAISE
OUTER
LEVER
NEVER
---
### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5799 "2024-02-11T14:40:23Z")
Wordle 967 4/6
⬜🟩⬜🟨⬜
🟨🟩⬜⬜🟨
🟩🟩🟨🟨🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
HEART
RESIN
NERVE
NEVER
---
### Author:  [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)
#### Post date: [February 11, 2024, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wordle-a-strangely-compelling-word-game-part-2/981659/5800 "2024-02-11T15:21:01Z")
> **Wordle 967 5/6\* 2/11/2024**
>
> ⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜
> ⬜⬜🟨🟩🟩
> 🟨🟨⬜🟩🟩
> 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩
> 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
>
> F_R_I **E** D → I’m thinking an -ER ending looks likely. Try A and two comcons
> SA_N_ **ER** → Where to put the N? And what other vowel & consonant to try? I’m thinking a second E might be a good bet, which leads us to
> _EN_T **ER** → Good call on the E. Looks like NE?ER. Not much left but V & W can go in there. I though of NEVER first, so I’ll go with my second thought
> **NE** W **ER** → Should have gone with my first thought
> **NEVER**
>
> And yes, Scoredle started guessing the answer starting with the third guess. I’m not sure it’s possible for a web page to be smug, but it’s feeling like it right now…
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