Wordle Clues (and Answer) for Friday, May 16, 2025:

Daily Wordle Clues (Solution) for Friday, 16th May, 2025

Hey there, folks! Here's all the scoop about the Wordle answer for May 16, 2025 - and trust me, it's a juicy one! First things first, make sure you've got your guessing caps on, 'cause there are a few hints and strategies to help you out. And, as always, beware of spoilers if you're not ready for the answer yet!

Get Your Wordle On

Dive into the Wordle frenzy right here on the New York Times website. Every day, a new puzzle goes live at midnight, wherever in the world you may be.

Start your loyal quest by chucking a five-letter word into the ring. If you're lucky, those letters will turn green if they match the correct word, yellow if you got the right letter in the wrong spot, or gray if the letter isn't in the day's secret word at all. For insider tips, spice it up with our guide on playing Wordle [a] and strategy guide [b] - oh, and we've got some advanced tricks too if you're ready to step up your game!

Moving On to the Clues

So, you're eager to know more about today's Wordle? Alrighty!

Anything Strange?

Not much. Just make sure you're familiar with the old typesetters' phrase ETAOIN SHRDLU[1]. It'll be our little secret, eh, mate? Just think of it as "Edwin Shirdloo," like a buddy. Three of our letters today can be found in this mnemonic, with the other two appearing fairly often.

More Specific Hints

This word is an ordinal number.

There's one repeated letter today.

You'll only find one vowel in this cryptic word.

The word starts with F and ends with H.

Time to Unravel the Mystery

Can't wait to see if you're on the right track? Let's not keep you in suspense any longer. Hide your eyes if you don't want to know the answer! The answer to today's Wordle puzzle is... drumroll please... FIFTH!

Thought you had it? Not to worry, even the master sleuths of Wordle can get tripped up on occasion. How did you fare? Let's hope you've learned something for your next challenge!

Going Down Memory Lane

Let's dust off our memory and revisit the answer to yesterday's Wordle [c]. Yep, it was a toughy! It had four common letters and one somewhat common letter. Delve into the mystery and discover if your answer matches the one provided: EAGER!

The Lowdown on Wordle Basics

How It All Starts

You're on a quest to decipher the day's secret word. When you first open the Wordle game, you'll face a grid of empty letters. But it's up to you to make the first move: type in any five-letter word.

Color Me Clued In

Once you've made your guess, the colors will give you clues: green means you're on the money, and in the right position. If a letter is featured somewhere in the word, but not in the position you guessed, it'll turn yellow. Gray letters mean they're nowhere to be found in the solution word.

The Perfect Strategy

To play the game, use your guesses to gather information on the letters in the word. If you know the word must end in -OUND, don't waste four guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND; instead, try a tactical move like MARSH. If the H lights up in yellow, you're off to the races!

The Ultimate Starter Words

So what's the absolutely best starting word for this nail-biting guessing game? The best starter words contain common letters, which will help you score yellow and green squares to guide your guessing. Some of the best options are CRANE, TRACE, SLANT, CRATE, CARTE, or RENTS, to name a few. Play around with various strategies and see which one works best for you!

That's all there is to it, friends! Can't wait to hear how your Wordle journey goes! May the odds be ever in your favor!

[1] - https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ retval: ETAOIN_SHRDLU[2] - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/mar/10/how-to-win-at-wordle-a-psychologists-expert-guide[3] - https://www.tabletopgaming.com/features/how-to-win-at-wordle-tips-tricks-strategy-guide[4] - https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/30/how-to-guarantee-a-win-at-wordle-in-four-master-these-three-letter- combo/[5] - https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/about[6] - https://www.theneighborhoodcommunicator.com/wordle-solutions-almost-every-day-of-the-year-a4a19215afa8[7] - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/games/wordle-strategy-tricks-clues.html[8] - https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/about[9] - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/style/wordle- theme- today.html[10] - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/09/games/how- wordle-gets-its-word-of-the-day.html[11] - https://datesandtimes.com/typewriters- qwerty-keyboard-phrases/[12] - https://www.propaj.com/short/p1235455.html[13] - https://www.vox.com/recode/22341259/best-wordle-starting-words[14] - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/16/games/wordle- answer-clues-today.html?referringSource=articleShare[15] - game_day: 2023-05-16[16] - num_guesses: 4[17] - num_letters: 5[18] - solution: FIFTH[19] - analysis_bot_ pick: CRANE, TRACE, and SLANT[20] - MIT_ analysis_ solution_ suggestion: SALET, REAST, and TRACE[21] - common_letters: 3[22] - mnemonic: ETAOIN_SHRDLU[23] - ordinal_number: True[24] - has_double_letter: False[25] - num_vowels: 1[26] - starts_with_letter: F[27] - ends_with_letter: H[28] - texture: informal[29] - enrichment_used_percentage: 35.19[30] - year: 2023

The solution to today's Wordle is revealed as 'FIFTH', a word many are eager to decipher after seeing the green and yellow squares light up on the New York Times website.
The game of Wordle, a daily online entertainment for social-media enthusiasts and pop-culture aficionados, presents a new five-letter word puzzle every day, with strategies and tips to guide players.
Navigating wordle's challenges becomes a shared experience on social media, with players discussing their strategies, sharing their triumphs and defeats, and using the old typesetters' phrase 'ETAOIN SHRDLU' as a secret hint.