Vol. —Today

Daily Reverse Puzzle

Don't Wordle

Keep clues · Dodge answers

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What Is Don't Wordle?

Don't Wordle uses the same green, yellow, and gray feedback as Wordle, but the goal is reversed. Every clue helps you understand the hidden word, and that knowledge makes the board more dangerous.

The challenge is not just to avoid the answer. You also have to keep every new guess legal under the rules you have already revealed.

How the Board Works

Once you discover a green letter, you must keep it in that position. Once you discover a yellow letter, you must keep using it somewhere else. Once a letter or letter-position combination has been ruled out, you cannot go back to it.

The counter at the top shows how many legal guesses remain. That number can drop much faster than the number of possible answers, which is why the game can box you in before the sixth row. See the full Don't Wordle rules for the legal-guess details.

Undo and Hard Mode

Standard mode gives you five Undos. Hard Mode reduces that to two. The clue rules stay the same in both modes.

If you run out of legal words before the puzzle ends, the game can place you in a temporary elimination state. Undo is your way to back out and try a safer path. Our strategy guide shows when to spend it.

Daily Puzzle

Every day has one shared puzzle, counted from May 25, 2022. The puzzle changes with your local date, so the next round starts at your own midnight. If you want to keep playing without burning the daily, try our unlimited mode.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Don't Wordle?
Don't Wordle is a reverse word puzzle where your goal is to avoid guessing the hidden five-letter word. You still receive familiar green, yellow, and gray clues, but every clue makes the puzzle more dangerous.
How do you play Don't Wordle?
Enter a valid five-letter word. After each guess, use the color clues to understand what the hidden word could be. Your next guesses must follow the clues, but your goal is to survive without entering the answer.
How do you win Don't Wordle?
You survive by making six legal guesses without ever submitting the hidden word. If the board traps you before then, you can be temporarily eliminated and may need to Undo.
What do the colors mean?
Green means the letter is correct and in the right position. Yellow means the letter is in the word but in a different position. Gray means the letter is not in the hidden word.
What does Hard Mode do?
Hard Mode only changes Undo count. Standard mode gives you five Undos; Hard Mode gives you two.
What does Valid Words Remaining mean?
It shows how many legal guesses are still available under the rules you have revealed so far. It is not just a count of possible answers.
When does the puzzle reset?
The daily puzzle changes when your local calendar day changes. Puzzle #1 was May 25, 2022.
Can I play on mobile?
Yes. The game is designed mobile-first and also works on tablet and desktop browsers.
Is Don't Wordle free?
Yes. Don't Wordle UK is free to play online in your browser, with no signup and no install.
Is Don't Wordle UK affiliated with Wordle or The New York Times?
No. Don't Wordle UK is an independent word puzzle website and is not affiliated with Wordle or The New York Times.

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