The July 15 edition of Wordle featured the word 'PSHAW', which many players have called one of the hardest in the game's history, ending countless winning streaks. The puzzle, part of the New York Times portfolio since early 2022, typically sees millions of daily users, but this particular word left even seasoned players struggling.
What Made 'PSHAW' So Difficult?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word is used to express irritation, disapproval, contempt, or disbelief. However, its unusual letter combination — starting with two rarely paired consonants followed by another consonant — makes it appear in only a handful of English words. The New York Times revealed that its game testers, who solve each puzzle in advance, took an average of six guesses to get it right.
Players took to Reddit to express their frustration. One user said, 'I never would have come up with this, I never use this word, and I never hear it used. I know it exists, but I didn’t know it would be a valid word here.' Another added, 'I am familiar with this word, but it nonetheless took 6 guesses for me to get there.' A third commented, 'If that’s a word then, Pffff should be a word too…the sound an air hose makes when it springs a leak!'
Wordle's Rise and Cultural Impact
Wordle began in June 2021 as a private game for creator Josh Wardle and his partner, exploding in popularity after its public release in October 2021. By 2025, it had over 12 million active daily users. Celebrities like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are fans, and a TV show is in development.
Despite its success, the game occasionally throws curveballs. The July 15 puzzle was one such instance, with one player noting, 'I got it and I’m still upset.'
Creator Josh Wardle's New Venture: Parseword
Wordle's creator has since launched a new game, Parseword, which aims to simplify cryptic crosswords. A description on the game's website states, 'Cryptics are beautiful and rich puzzles but are notoriously hard to learn. We wanted to make a game that captures the joy of solving cryptics while making them more accessible to everyone.'
In an interview with the New Yorker, Wardle said he hopes to 'reduce the problem space for new solvers' with Parseword. He added, 'Releasing Parseword is happening more on my own terms, instead of happening to me.'
