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This page shows spoiler‑free hints for the official NYT Wordle puzzle published on Dec 19, 2024 (2024-12-19). Step through the hints in order and only reveal the answer when you're ready.
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Puzzle #1279 · 2024-12-19
Start with broad structure, then reveal more detail only when you need it. The final button shows the full answer for this puzzle.
Hint 1 – structure
Hint 2 – letters
Hint 3 – extra detail
Reveal answer
Puzzle #1279 · 2024-12-19
Today's answer is most often used as a noun. It contains 1 vowel and 4 consonants, and it uses five different letters. Its Scrabble score is 8.
Definition & origin
STRAY — Any domestic animal that has no enclosure, or its proper place and company, and wanders at large, or is lost; an estray.
Structurally this is a normal‑difficulty answer with no special traps or double letters. Careful play and solid starters should keep most streaks safe.
Starter words that lined up well today
Strong opening words for this puzzle included SLATE (covers the letters s, a, t), TRACE (covers the letters t, r, a) and SOARE (covers the letters s, a, r). If you opened with one of these, you were already probing several of the key letters in the answer.