Wordle has become one of the most popular daily games in the world. Every day, millions of people try to guess a hidden five-letter word in just six attempts. Some days feel easy, while others are extremely frustrating.
But according to WordleBot’s official data, July 2025 was the toughest month in Wordle history. Players struggled with repeated letters, rare consonants, and tricky letter placements. And experts believe this trend will continue, with future puzzles likely to become even harder.
This article explains why July 2025 was so difficult, which words caused the most problems, and what might happen next as the game evolves.
Why July 2025 Stood Out
WordleBot collects average scores from thousands of players every day. These scores show how many guesses people needed to solve the puzzle.
- The average score across July 2025 was 4.22 guesses.
- This was the highest monthly average ever recorded since WordleBot started tracking data in April 2022.
- For comparison:
- The game’s overall average is 3.97 guesses.
- The second-hardest month was October 2024 at 4.15 guesses.
- The easiest month was December 2023 at 3.65 guesses.
This means July wasn’t just hard — it was significantly harder than any other month.
The 10 Toughest Wordles of July 2025
Some specific puzzles caused chaos among players. Rare letters like J, Z, and V appeared often, while repeated letters made guessing harder.
Here’s a table of the toughest puzzles from July 2025:
| Game # | Word | Date | Avg Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1497 | GOFER | Fri, July 25 | 5.6 | Equal 4th hardest in history |
| 1482 | JUMPY | Thu, July 10 | 5.2 | Rare J + many “-UMPY” traps |
| 1493 | TIZZY | Mon, July 21 | 4.9 | Double Z, very rare pattern |
| 1475 | POPPY | Thu, July 3 | 4.8 | Triple P, unusual structure |
| 1487 | FOIST | Tue, July 15 | 4.8 | Can change to MOIST/HOIST/JOIST |
| 1500 | SAVVY | Mon, July 28 | 4.8 | Double V, low frequency letter |
| 1477 | BALER | Sat, July 5 | 4.7 | “ER” ending + unusual setup |
| 1484 | EXILE | Sat, July 12 | 4.6 | Mix of common/uncommon letters |
| 1488 | NERVY | Wed, July 16 | 4.5 | Unusual ending “-RVY” |
| 1503 | FRILL | Thu, July 31 | 4.4 | Repeated letters trap |
Why Were These Words So Difficult?
Several patterns explain why July was especially challenging:
1. Rare Letters
- JUMPY included the letter J, which is the least common letter in Wordle’s entire word list.
- TIZZY and SAVVY forced players to deal with Z and V, which also rarely appear.
2. Repeated Letters
- POPPY had three Ps.
- TIZZY contained two Zs.
- SAVVY repeated V.
Repeated letters often trick players into wasting guesses because many assume each letter appears only once.
3. Letter Traps
- FOIST was dangerous because changing the first letter created multiple valid words like MOIST, HOIST, and JOIST.
- This trap forced players into unlucky streaks of near misses.
4. Common Endings with Uncommon Letters
- GOFER ended with -ER, one of the most common endings in Wordle, but paired it with G and F, both rare starting consonants.
- This misled players into testing more obvious options first.
FAQs
Q1. Why was July considered Wordle’s toughest month ever?
Because multiple puzzles in July had unusual words, repeated letters, or rare letter placements that confused players, leading to higher failure rates compared to previous months.
Q2. How does The New York Times measure puzzle difficulty?
The Times tracks player statistics, including the percentage of solved puzzles, average number of guesses, and frequency of failed attempts. These numbers showed July had the lowest success rate.
Q3. What made certain July Wordle words harder than normal?
Some answers had double letters, uncommon letter combinations, or less frequently used words in daily English, which made players struggle more than usual.
Q4. Does Wordle get harder over time?
Not exactly. The core game rules remain the same, but as more common words are used up, the remaining word list may include trickier, less familiar terms, giving the impression of rising difficulty.
Q5. Could Wordle puzzles in future months get even harder?
Yes. If the word pool continues to rely on obscure or less common words, future months may surpass July in difficulty.
Q6. Are Wordle’s hard words chosen on purpose?
The New York Times says the word list is pre-selected and carefully reviewed, but not specifically designed to frustrate. However, they do balance difficulty to keep the game engaging.
Q7. How do players usually cope with harder Wordle puzzles?
Many rely on proven starter words with vowels and common consonants (like “CRANE” or “SLATE”), track letter patterns, and avoid wasting guesses on rare letters early.
Q8. What happens if players fail the daily Wordle?
They must wait until the next day for a new puzzle since Wordle only allows one puzzle per day. This creates suspense and encourages consistent play.
Q9. Has Wordle ever had easier months?
Yes, months with straightforward words, common vocabulary, or fewer repeated letters often see higher success rates and more players solving in under four guesses.
Q10. Why do people keep playing Wordle despite the difficulty?
Because it is quick, addictive, and social. Sharing results, competing with friends, and overcoming tough puzzles give players a sense of challenge and achievement.
How July Compared to Other Months
To understand how extreme July 2025 was, let’s look at Wordle’s history:
| Month/Year | Avg Score | Difficulty Rank |
|---|---|---|
| July 2025 | 4.22 | #1 (Hardest) |
| Oct 2024 | 4.15 | #2 |
| May 2024 | 4.12 | #3 |
| Jan 2025 | 4.11 | #4 |
| Dec 2023 | 3.65 | Easiest |
| Overall Avg | 3.97 | — |
This proves July wasn’t just a bad streak — it was historically significant.
Why Wordle is Getting Harder
So why are puzzles becoming more difficult? Several reasons explain the trend:
1. The Original Word List is Running Out
- Wordle started with 2,315 words chosen by creator Josh Wardle.
- We are now past 1,500 games, leaving fewer than 800 original words.
- To keep the game alive, the New York Times must add new words to the list.
2. New Words Are Trickier
The NYT has added 17 new answers since March 2023, including:
- UVULA
- SNAFU
- PRIMP
- MOMMY
These words are less common, harder to guess, and often break the usual patterns players rely on.
In July 2025 alone, five “non-original” words appeared:
- ATRIA (4.1 avg)
- NERVY (4.5 avg)
- LORIS (4.2 avg)
- TIZZY (4.9 avg)
- GOFER (5.6 avg)
Their average score was 4.66, showing that newly added words are consistently tougher.
3. Common Words Are Already Used
- Everyday words like HOUSE, TODAY, and BELOW have already been used as answers.
- That means the remaining pool is naturally filled with less familiar, more technical, or odd-sounding words.
What This Means for Future Players
The trend is clear: Wordle will likely keep getting harder. Here’s what players should expect:
- More rare letters: Expect puzzles with Q, Z, V, J, and X more often.
- Unusual structures: Words like BALSA, KAZOO, SQUID, TAUPE may appear.
- More repeats: Double and triple letters will continue to appear, catching players off guard.
- Fewer common words: You won’t see basic words like “APPLE” or “WATER” again — those are already used.
Tips for Surviving Harder Wordles
If the game keeps getting more challenging, players need smarter strategies. Here are some tips:
- Use strong starter words: Examples include STARE, CRANE, SLATE.
- Check for repeats: Don’t assume each letter appears once — test for doubles early.
- Experiment with rare letters: If stuck, try adding J, Z, V, or Q to your guesses.
- Avoid tunnel vision: Don’t get trapped testing only common words.
Conclusion
July 2025 wasn’t just another hard month in Wordle — it was the hardest month ever recorded. With words like GOFER, JUMPY, TIZZY, and SAVVY, players were pushed to the limit.
And this may just be the beginning. With the original word list running out and the NYT adding trickier new words, the future of Wordle looks even tougher.