Wordle #1,698: A Puzzle That Might Make You Go Green
Welcome back, word wizards! Wordle #1,698 has arrived, and it’s serving up a challenge that’s a little… selective. If you’re staring at a grid of grays and yellows, wondering if today’s answer is just playing hard to get, you’re not alone. This one has a specific vibe that can trip up even the most seasoned players. According to the New York Times’ trusty WordleBot, the average player is cracking this nut in about 4.0 moves on easy mode, or a slightly more efficient 3.9 if you’re playing by hard rules. Ready to dig in? Let’s break it down.
Heads up, spoiler territory ahead! We’re about to dive deep into hints, strategy, and ultimately, the answer for Wordle #1,698. If you want to solve it on your own, now’s your chance to turn back. Otherwise, let’s get to the clues.
Your Progressive Clue Kit for Wordle #1,698
Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Today’s Wordle is an adjective (and can also be a noun). It contains two of the five standard vowels. Thematically, it’s often associated with lifestyle choices, diets, and menus.
Level 2: Intermediate Insights
The word begins with the letter V. One vowel is the second letter, and the other is the fourth. Think of a word that describes something completely free of animal-derived ingredients.
Level 3: Advanced Assistance
The letter structure is: V _ _ A _. Synonyms include “plant-based” and “dairy-free.” You’ll most commonly encounter it in restaurants, supermarkets, or passionate online discussions about food ethics.
Difficulty Analysis: Why This Wordle Bites
| Factor | Level (1-10) | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 6/10 | It uses several common letters, but starts with a less common one (V), which is the main hurdle. |
| Patterns | 3/10 | No double letters or common endings like “ING” or “ED.” The “V” start is a rare pattern. |
| Vowels | 7/10 | Two vowels in clear positions (2nd and 4th) is helpful, but the “A” is in a spot that hosts many possibilities. |
| Trickiness | 8/10 | Highly deceptive! Once you have _E_A_, common words like “BEGAN,” “SEDAN,” and “PECAN” can lead you astray. |
A Step-by-Step Solving Journey
Let’s walk through a strategic approach. A great opener like CRANE or SLATE would likely give you a green or yellow ‘A’ and ‘E’, setting a solid foundation. For this example, let’s say we used ORATE, which would turn the ‘A’ and ‘E’ yellow.
Seeing those two vowels, a smart second guess aims to test common consonants and reposition the yellows. A word like ALIEN or MEDIA would be excellent. Using ALIEN might turn the ‘N’ green and confirm the ‘E’ is not at the end, dramatically narrowing the field.
The elimination process now gets interesting. With a pattern like _ E _ A N, your brain might immediately jump to common words such as “BEGAN” or “SEDAN.” This is the crucial fork in the road. You need to consider less common starting letters.
The “aha!” moment comes when you remember that the answer started with a ‘V’ (from our hints, or from testing less common consonants). Slotting in the ‘V’ makes everything click: V E _ A N. The missing consonant becomes obvious, leading you to the satisfying green grid.
The recommended number of tries for this puzzle is 4. It’s perfectly respectable to land it in 3 if you guess the ‘V’ early, or 5 if you get tangled in the “BEGAN”/”SEDAN” trap.
Specific Strategies for Today’s Puzzle
If you’re stuck on the _E_A_ pattern: Force yourself to abandon the most obvious choices. Write down all consonants that could fit the first blank. You’ll quickly realize ‘V’ is a strong candidate you may have overlooked.
Avoiding the trap of common endings: The “-AN” ending is a massive red herring today. Don’t assume the word is a simple past-tense verb or a common noun because of it. Today’s answer is an exception to that rule.
Today’s unique letter pattern: The “VEG-” beginning is the key. Very few common Wordle answers start with these three letters. Once you test a ‘V’ and see it turn green, the solution is within reach.
By The Numbers: Some Fun Stats
- Word Frequency: “Vegan” is a moderately common word in modern English, especially in food, health, and lifestyle contexts, but it’s far less frequent than the deceptive “began” or “sedan.”
- Wordle Answer Rarity: This is only the 43rd Wordle answer to ever begin with the letter ‘V’.
- Success Rate: Given the average of ~4 guesses, we estimate a high solve rate (likely over 96%), but a lower rate of stellar 3-guess scores due to the tricky red herrings.
For the Curious Minds
Where does the word “vegan” come from? It was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson, a founder of the British Vegan Society. He took the beginning and end of the word “vegetarian,” arguing that veganism is “the beginning and end of vegetarian.” Talk about a purposeful portmanteau!
A culturally, it’s more than a diet; it represents a philosophy seeking to exclude all forms of animal exploitation. You’ll find variations globally: in Spanish it’s “vegano,” in French “végétalien” (though “vegan” is also used), and in German “Veganer.”
Flashback: Yesterday’s Answer (Wordle #1,697)
If you’re catching up, yesterday’s solution was SCENE. A much more straightforward puzzle, despite its double ‘E’. It was a classic example of how common letters in common positions can lead to a quick solve. Compared to today’s “VEGAN,” “SCENE” was a walk in the park, with far fewer plausible word options to lead you astray.
3 General Wordle Tips to Take Forward
- Beware the Common Trap: When you have a common pattern (like _E_A_), your brain will offer you the most frequent words first. Pause and actively consider less common letters that also fit.
- V is for Victory (Sometimes): Don’t neglect the less common starting letters like V, K, J, X, Z, or Q. If you’re stuck on guess 4 or 5, dedicating a guess to testing 2-3 of them can be a game-winning strategy.
- Hard Mode Discipline: If you play Hard Mode, today’s puzzle is a perfect lesson. A yellow ‘E’ and ‘A’ from your first guess forces you to keep them in play, which naturally leads you to test words like “BEGAN” and “PECAN.” This isn’t a waste—it’s a necessary process of elimination that teaches you the shape of the answer.
And there you have it! Whether you aced it in three or sweated it out to six, you’ve conquered another day. Remember, every tricky puzzle like today’s “VEGAN” makes you a sharper player for tomorrow. See you at the next grid!
