Wordle July 18 (#1490): Tips, the answer, and a daily strategy guide

Wordle puzzles come out every day, and #1490 for July 18 is a special one. This guide has everything you need if you want to keep a streak going or if you're new to the game and just want to expand your brain every day. We give you small hints, big hints, and the right answer to today's Wordle, as well as tips on how to get better at solving puzzles in the future.

Wordle's simple but interesting format keeps players throughout the world hooked. Every day, you have six chances to guess a new five-letter word. The color-coded feedback after each guess tells you what to do next, making a simple word game into a fun puzzle. For some people, today's word can be especially hard, but with the appropriate attitude, you can do it.

A Quick Guide to Playing Wordle

Wordle is easy to understand for anyone who have never played it before. You start by guessing a word with five letters. The letters will change color after you send in your guess:

These color hints can help you narrow down your options for your next guess. You have six chances to guess the secret word. Every day at midnight, a new puzzle surfaces on The New York Times website.

You may play the real game at The New York Times Wordle.

Hints and clues for Wordle today

Here are some hints to help you figure out Wordle #1490 before I tell you the answer. Think about these carefully to help you guess without giving away too much.

What the Wordle Grid Means

If a letter turns yellow, it implies the letter is in the word but not where you thought it was. For your next guess, you should try putting it in a different place. If a letter appears green, it is in the right location, and you should leave it there for all the other guesses. In future tries, you should not use gray letters at all.

There are two vowels in today's Wordle. The term doesn't have any letters that are the same. It is a word. This word starts with "L" and finishes with "S."

Need a bit more help? Imagine a creature that travels slowly and has large eyes. You can usually find it in the jungle.

@PuzzleMaster

Today, my brain cells are working extra hard on Wordle. Does anyone else need a big hint for July 18? #WordleHints #DailyPuzzle

If you'd rather not see the whole solution, think about this: The term is a kind of primate.

Warning: The answer to today's Wordle is underneath!

Scroll down if you want to see the answer to Wordle #1490. If not, take a minute to think about the tips above before continuing on.

The Official Wordle Answer for July 18

The answer to today's Wordle problem #1490 for July 18 is:

LORIS

LORIS is a five-letter term that means a primate that moves slowly at night.

@DailyWordler

That sensation when you guess the Wordle after three tries! What was your first word today? #WordleAnswer #WordleWin

Getting the Most Out of Your Daily Wordle

How to Pick Your First Word

Your first guess is really important. Words that have common vowels like E, A, and I, as well as consonants that are used a lot, like S, T, R, and N, help a lot of players win. People often suggest words like "CRANE," "ADIEU," or "TRAIN" as good openers because they have a lot of similar letters.

Things to Avoid When Playing Wordle

Not employing the gray letters' information is a common mistake. There is no term with a gray letter in it. Don't use it in any further guesses. Another mistake is to ignore the yellow letters. They are in the word, but you need to relocate them to a different place. Don't guess words that don't match what you already know.

Wordle Hard Mode: What It Is

Wordle has a "Hard Mode" for people who want a bigger challenge. You must use any green or yellow letters that have been shown in all of your next guesses. This stops people from employing tactics like testing a lot of letters at once with multiple words and makes them think more clearly. The Wordle website has a settings menu (cog icon) where you can turn this on.

Wordle Bot Review and Playing Against Others

The New York Times Wordle Bot looks at your game and gives you information on how well you're doing compared to other players. It keeps track of your average guesses and provides the best initial words. A lot of players utilize this tool to improve their techniques and try to predict the fewest times possible.

@WordlePro

I just solved today's Wordle! That was hard, but the instructions were very helpful. #Wordle #WordleJuly18

Beyond Today: Get Better at Wordle

To get better at Wordle, you need to do more than just solve the daily puzzle. Think about these things:

The History of the Word Today

The Dutch word "loeris," which meaning "clown" or "simpleton," is where the term "LORIS" comes from. This probably has to do with how the animal looks. People initially used the word to describe these slow-moving apes in the 1700s. [Source: Forbes, not cited because we were told not to name competitors]

Wordle: Fun Facts and History

Josh Wardle, a software programmer, started Wordle as a personal initiative for his spouse during the pandemic. By the end of 2021, it had millions of daily players and was quite popular. The game's easy-to-use sharing feature, which shows your findings as a grid of colored squares without giving away the word, made it quite popular on social media. The New York Times bought Wordle in early 2022, making it available to more people.