Wordle, the widely popular word puzzle game developed by Josh Wardle, continues to challenge players worldwide with its daily five-letter word guessing challenge. Today’s puzzle, hosted by The New York Times, left many players struggling to crack the code. If you’re still trying to solve it, here are some helpful clues before we reveal the answer.

Wordle Hints and Clues for February 16, 2025

  1. The word does not contain any repeated letters.
  2. It includes three vowels.
  3. It begins with the letter S.
  4. It can refer to an inexpensive shampoo brand.
  5. It is also used to describe someone charming and elegant.

If you’re still stuck, don’t worry—the answer to today’s Wordle puzzle is ‘SUAVE’.

The Story Behind Wordle’s Popularity

Originally created by Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle quickly became a worldwide phenomenon. Its simple yet addictive format—allowing players to guess a five-letter word in six tries—attracted millions of daily players. The game’s popularity led to spin-offs like Squabble, Heardle, Dordle, and Quordle, adding new twists to the word-guessing challenge.

As Wordle’s success grew, The New York Times acquired it in February 2022, making it an integral part of its online games section. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, played a major role in boosting Wordle’s popularity, with players sharing strategies and livestreaming their daily attempts.

Where and How to Play Wordle

Wordle remains exclusive to The New York Times Games website and is not available as an app. The game remains ad-free, ensuring an uninterrupted experience for players focused on maintaining their winning streaks.

The game’s mechanics are simple:

  • Gray tiles indicate letters that are not in the word.
  • Yellow tiles mean the letter is correct but placed in the wrong spot.
  • Green tiles confirm the correct letter in the right position.

Today’s challenge may have been tricky, but Wordle fans are already gearing up for tomorrow’s puzzle. Stay tuned for more hints and solutions!