NEW YORK, NY — Wordle enthusiasts encountered one of the most significant challenges of the year this Friday, December 19, 2025. As the holiday season reaches a fever pitch, The New York Times served up a puzzle that combined seasonal relevance with a linguistic structure that left even seasoned players scratching their heads.
The answer to Wordle #1644 is MYRRH.
A “Brutal” Friday for Wordle Streaks
According to data from WordleBot, the game’s official analytical tool, today’s puzzle carried an average score of 3.9 to 4.3 guesses, significantly higher than the typical daily average. Many players reported that the word nearly ruined their 2025 winning streaks due to its unique spelling and lack of traditional vowels.
Why “MYRRH” Was So Difficult
Several factors contributed to the high difficulty rating for today’s word:
- The Vowel Vacuum: The word contains zero “standard” vowels (A, E, I, O, U). Instead, it relies on the letter Y as a “sometimes” vowel, a mechanic that often trips up players who prioritize vowel-heavy starting words like ADIEU or AUDIO.
- Double Consonants: The double-R in the middle of the word added a layer of complexity. While double letters are common in Wordle, they are notoriously difficult to pin down when they aren’t common vowels like EE or OO.
- The Silent H: Ending in a silent H after a double R is a rare orthographic pattern in English, making it one of only 12 solutions in the entire Wordle database with this specific structure.
Seasonal Serendipity or Planned Puzzle?
The appearance of MYRRH just six days before Christmas has sparked a debate among the Wordle community. In the biblical Nativity story, myrrh is one of the three gifts—alongside gold and frankincense—brought by the Magi to the baby Jesus.
While The New York Times has historically maintained that the Wordle queue is randomized, the proximity to the holiday suggests a deliberate “Easter egg” for players. Whether by chance or design, the word provided a fragrant, if frustrating, festive touch to the morning routine.
Top Clues That Helped Players Solve It
For those who didn’t get it on the first few tries, the following hints proved to be the most useful:
- Start Letter: The word begins with M.
- End Letter: The word ends with H.
- The “Y” Factor: There is only one vowel sound, and it isn’t A,E,I,O, or U.
- Definition: It is a fragrant gum resin used in perfumes, incense, and medicine.
Strategy: How to Tackle “Vowel-less” Words
Today’s puzzle served as a reminder of the importance of “Y” as a fallback. Expert players recommend “burner words” like GLYPH, NYMPH, or CRYPT when the standard vowels turn up gray. These words help identify the position of the Y and other rare consonants like P, H, and M.
Comparative Performance
| Metric | Today’s Word (MYRRH) | Yesterday’s Word (RUGBY) |
| Average Guesses | 4.1 | 3.5 |
| Difficulty Rating | High | Medium-Low |
| Common Trait | Unusual Consonants | Ending in ‘Y’ |
Around the Games Hub
While Wordle took center stage, other NYT games also saw high engagement this Friday:
- Connections: The categories today included “NL West Players” and “Boxing Movies.”
- The Mini Crossword: Featured clues like “Melted marshmallow (GOO)” and “New Hampshire’s motto (LIVE FREE OR DIE).”
- Strands: The theme focused on “Holiday Traditions.”
As the weekend approaches, players are advised to keep their dictionaries—and perhaps their hymnals—handy, as the holiday-themed words may continue to appear.