Another Tuesday, another Wordle to solve. We have about 30 of these left before it’s 2026. We have under 1,000 before the Wordle word list runs out. But let’s not dwell on the future. Better to live in the moment and solve today’s Wordle!
Looking for Monday’s Wordle? Check out our guide right here.
Today’s Bonus Wordle
Now that we can create our own custom Wordles, I’m including a bonus Wordle with each daily Wordle guide. These can be 4 to 7 letters long. Hopefully this is a fun extra challenge. Click the link below to play the Wordle I hand-crafted for you.
Today’s Bonus Custom Wordle.
Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes
- The Wordle: This custom Wordle is 7 letters long.
- The hint: Medicine that sometimes accompanies antibiotics.
- The clue: This custom Wordle has a double letter.
Yesterday’s bonus Wordle answer was: SNOTTY
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
How To Play Wordle
Wordle is a daily word puzzle game where your goal is to guess a hidden five-letter word in six tries or fewer. After each guess, the game gives feedback to help you get closer to the answer:
- Green: The letter is in the word and in the correct spot.
- Yellow: The letter is in the word, but in the wrong spot.
- Gray: The letter is not in the word at all.
Use these clues to narrow down your guesses. Every day brings a new word, and everyone around the world is trying to solve the same puzzle. Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator. See rules for Competitive Wordle toward the end of this post.
Today’s Wordle Hints And Answer
- Wordle Bot’s Starting Word: SLATE
- My Starting Word Today: SPORE (383 words remaining)
- The Hint: Found in the desert.
- The Clue: This Wordle has a double letter.
Okay, spoilers below! The answer is coming!
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The Answer:
Wordle Bot Analysis
Every day I check Wordle Bot to help analyze my guessing game. You can check your Wordle score with Wordle Bot right here.
SPORE wasn’t a great opening guess today, but CLAIM slashed the 383 words remaining down to just two: CHINA and CACTI. I actually wasn’t sure if CHINA was acceptable (I was thinking of the country rather than the dishes) so I plugged in CACTI and lo and behold, that was the Wordle! Huzzah!
Competitive Wordle Score
The Wordle Bot and I each tied (0 points) and got the Wordle in three tries (1 point) so our December totals inch up:
Erik: 3 points
Wordle Bot: 0 points
How To Play Competitive Wordle
- Guessing in 1 is worth 3 points; guessing in 2 is worth 2 points; guessing in 3 is worth 1 point; guessing in 4 is worth 0 points; guessing in 5 is -1 points; guessing in 6 is -2 points and missing the Wordle is -3 points.
- If you beat your opponent you get 1 point. If you tie, you get 0 points. And if you lose to your opponent, you get -1 point. Add it up to get your score. Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.
- Fridays are 2XP, meaning you double your points—positive or negative.
- You can keep a running tally or just play day-by-day. Enjoy!
Today’s Wordle Definition & Etymology
Cacti is simply the Latin plural of cactus.
- The word cactus was adopted into English in the 18th century from Latin, which itself borrowed it from the Ancient Greek kaktos, meaning a spiny plant (likely a type of thistle).
- Following normal Latin rules, the plural of cactus becomes cacti (just like alumnus → alumni).
Modern English also accepts cactuses and, more rarely, the pseudo-Latin cactus as a plural, but cacti is the form inherited directly from Latin.
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