Wordle #1,940 Hints and Answer for October 11: Today’s Solution Revealed
Well, well, well. If it isn’t another day, another Wordle. October 11 brings us puzzle #1,940, and if you’re anything like the millions of players who wake up, grab their coffee, and immediately fire up the New York Times Games app, you’re probably here because today’s answer is being a little stubborn.
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with hints, strategies, and yes, the full answer if you’re ready to throw in the towel. But let’s do this the fun way first, shall we?
How Tough Is Today’s Wordle?
According to the New York Times’ WordleBot, the average player completes today’s puzzle in 4.0 moves in easy mode, or 3.9 moves if you’re playing by hard rules. That’s right around the typical difficulty sweet spot, but don’t let that fool you.
There’s a specific reason this one trips people up, and it starts with a letter that barely shows up in Wordle’s answer pool. We’ll get to that in a moment.
Spoiler Warning (in Case You Wanted One)
Look, we’re about to spill everything. If you want to preserve the thrill of discovery, now’s your moment to click away and come back after you’ve stared at your screen for 20 minutes. If not? Stick around. We’ll ease you into it.
Today’s Hints: Level 1 (Soft Clues)
Let’s start gentle. No spoilers here, just enough to nudge you in the right direction.
- Part of speech: It’s a verb (though it plays in other grammatical sandboxes too).
- Vowel count: Two vowels. That’s it.
- Category: Think action, removal, or undoing something. This word has a bit of motion to it.
- Fun teaser from our source: Today’s Wordle answer “has no lid.” Chew on that one.
Today’s Hints: Level 2 (Intermediate)
Feeling braver? Here’s more to work with.
- Starting letter: The word begins with the letter “U.” Yes, that “U.” The one that shows up in only 33 Wordle answers out of nearly 2,000 puzzles.
- Vowel placement: Both vowels are in the first half of the word.
- Contextual clue: You might do this to a bottle, a pen, or a rule. It’s about taking something off or reversing a state.
Today’s Hints: Level 3 (Advanced)
Alright, this is your last stop before the big reveal.
- Letter structure: _ _ _ _ _ (five letters, starting with U, ending with a consonant).
- Synonym territory: Think along the lines of “open,” “release,” or “remove the cover.”
- Common usage: You do this to a marker, a jar, or a new chapter in your life. Very metaphorical potential.
Difficulty Breakdown: Why This One’s Tricky
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 4/10 | Only “A,” “N,” and “C” rank among the ten most common Wordle letters. “U” is rare territory. |
| Patterns | 3/10 | Fewer than 2% of Wordle answers begin with “U,” making the opening pattern unusual. |
| Vowels | 5/10 | Two vowels, but one is the uncommon “U.” That throws off most vowel-heavy strategies. |
| Traps | 7/10 | Similar-sounding words like UNJAM and HUMAN can lure you into the wrong guess. |
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: How We Cracked It
Here’s how the puzzle unfolded for one very determined Wordler (our source), and how you can replicate the strategy.
Step 1: Opening Move
The game started with ORATE, a classic opener loaded with common letters. Result? Just the “A” turned yellow, leaving a whopping 164 possible answers on the table, according to WordleBot. Not the best start.
WordleBot’s favorite openings fared better. CARET narrows the field to 31 possible answers, PLATE drops it to 22, and CRANE? A measly eight options left.
Step 2: The Strategic Second Guess
The follow-up was NAILS, mixing in high-value consonants “L,” “I,” “S,” “N,” and “C.” This turned “N” yellow and slashed the possibilities to just three answers. That’s the power of a strategic second move.
Step 3: A Slight Detour
Then came BHUNA. Yes, like the curry. It didn’t clear much off the board, but it confirmed “U” was in play. Not every guess needs to be a winner.
Step 4: The “Aha!” Moment
With “U” and “N” confirmed and only three candidates left, the answer clicked into place on the fourth turn.
Speaking of Which — Here’s Today’s Answer
Ready? Deep breath.
Today’s Wordle #1,940 answer is: UNCAP.
That’s right. As in, remove the cap from something. Twist off the lid. Take the top off. Four turns and out the door, assuming you didn’t wander into HUMAN or UNJAM territory first.
Strategies for This Specific Puzzle
If you’re stuck on today’s Wordle (or want to know what to do differently next time), here’s what matters:
- Don’t sleep on “U.” Most players mentally skip it because it’s rare in Wordle answers. But when a word starts with “U,” it’s usually paired with “N” or “P” — think UNTIE, UNCLE, UNCAP.
- Beware the trap of “UN-” words. Once you’ve confirmed “U” and “N” in the opening positions, your brain starts churning through UNZIP, UNTIE, UNTIL, and so on. Narrow down which follow-up consonants you’ve ruled out before committing.
- Play the field, not the streak. If a word feels “just okay,” it probably is. Try a different combination.
Wordle Stats You Didn’t Know You Needed
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Wordle answers starting with “U” | Just 33 out of #1,940 to date |
| Average completion today (easy mode) | 4.0 moves |
| Average completion today (hard mode) | 3.9 moves |
| WordleBot’s favorite opener today | CRANE (8 possible answers left) |
Considering the rarity of that opening “U,” an estimated 85% to 90% of players likely solved today’s puzzle within their six guesses — a touch lower than the usual daily solve rate, but nothing catastrophic.
For the Curious: The Story Behind UNCAP
UNCAP is one of those sturdy, under-the-radar English verbs that rarely gets the spotlight but does a lot of heavy lifting. Etymologically, it comes from adding the familiar “un-” prefix (meaning “reverse” or “remove”) to “cap,” which traces its roots back through Old English cæppe and Late Latin cappa — a hooded cloak, funnily enough.
These days, you can UNCAP everything from a toothpaste tube to a pen, and metaphorically, you can even “uncap” your potential. Not bad for five letters.
Yesterday’s Answer: Just for Reference
If you’re catching up, Wordle #1,939 was BUMPY — another tricky one for opposite reasons. It contained none of the ten most common Wordle letters up front, and the double “M” plus “Y” combination sent plenty of players into five-guess territory.
Compared to today’s UNCAP puzzle, yesterday’s challenge was arguably a touch harder, thanks to that silent “Y” and the uncommon pairing. If you survived both, congratulate yourself. You’re officially in the Wordle veteran club.
General Strategy Tips That Apply to Every Wordle
Whether today’s puzzle humbled you or you nailed it in three, here are the fundamentals worth keeping in your back pocket:
- Always start with a vowel-rich, common-letter opener. Think CRANE, SLATE, or RAISE. Covering A, E, and one or two common consonants early accelerates everything.
- Use your second guess to eliminate, not to solve. Chasing a “fourth-turn solve” too early means wasted attempts. Test remaining common consonants.
- Watch for patterns, not just letters. Wordle answers love “ST,” “CH,” “CR,” and “SH” combinations. If your remaining letters don’t form natural pairs, you’re on the wrong track.
- Never forget “Y.” It masquerades as a vowel in words like BUMPY, SHYLY, and FUNKY. If you’re stuck, “Y” might be the missing piece.
- Play mentally before committing. You can type possible answers without pressing Enter. Use that freedom wisely.
That’s it for today’s Wordle. Go forth, UNCAP your day, and we’ll see you tomorrow for puzzle #1,941.
