Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, May 1 (game #1193)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #1192).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 3.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1193) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• E

• S

• D

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1193, are…

• IDIOM
• EXILE
• SPOOF
• DRAPE

A very close call for me today after a long winning streak.

I got really unlucky with SPOOF; after deducing that there was a double-O, I guessed incorrectly three times, leaving me with no margin for error with the remaining word.

On such a tricky round I just knew that the Quordle gods were going to sneak in a rare letter, and so it proved.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1193) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1193, are…

• NEVER
• RULER
• COMMA
• SHIRE

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1192, Wednesday, 30 April: BATON, TORSO, ANNEX, DROWN
• Quordle #1191, Tuesday, 29 April: HOVER, HENCE, OCTAL, COPSE
• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY

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Experts warn of heatwave danger to routers, so act now before summer kicks in and temperatures could really soar – to the point that kills your Wi-Fi

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• Broadband provider Virgin Media has issued advice for UK users of its hub
• The company warns against placing a router in direct sunlight
• This could cause the router to overheat and perform badly – or ‘grind to a halt’ even – and there are other placement issues to consider, too

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You might not have ever thought much about the positioning of your Wi-Fi router, but it’s important – particularly as summer is knocking on the door, and some countries are experiencing their first taste of a heatwave.

The Independent reports that prompted by the unusually warm April temperatures in the UK, broadband provider Virgin Media has delivered a warning that it really isn’t a good idea to have your router placed in direct sunlight when the weather gets hot. (Or at any time for that matter).

Virgin Media issued a statement to say: “Although we test our [broadband] hubs carefully at a range of temperatures, they are better off out of bright sunlight, just like your phone or laptop. If the hub gets too hot, it could slow down your connection or even grind to a halt altogether.”

This underlines the point that your router is just like any other piece of hardware – it warms up when used, and has vents and needs to stay cool. Put the device in strong sunlight in a baking hot room, and the results may not be pretty, as Virgin Media suggests.

In a similar vein, the statement advises that you shouldn’t stick your router in a cupboard, where again, it might get overly warm due to a lack of ventilation in the heat. Not to mention the fact that placing it in an enclosed space is interfering with the Wi-Fi signal anyway.

Other placement advice to avoid interference with the Wi-Fi includes: “Keep the Hub at least 1m away from cordless phones or baby monitors, and as far as possible from big obstructions like cupboards and fish tanks.”

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(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Analysis: Tricks to make your router quick (or at least a bit quicker)

Isn’t this all rather alarmist? No, in a word, if your router does get too hot, performance is indeed likely to be impaired. (And it’s not beyond consideration that damage could be caused, too, in cases of extreme heat conditions – something we’re getting more used to seeing these days).

Granted, this isn’t the first time Virgin Media has run this advisory, and in fact the company seems to trot this out on a yearly basis (ahead of summer in the UK). But it’s the first time I’ve seen it, and the advice given is good, plus more broadly, we should all think a bit more about the placement of our router.

Don’t put it in the sun, for sure, or in a cupboard, or in your TV cabinet, for all the heat-related reasons given above. Similarly, don’t shove the router under your desk – try to have it up reasonably high, not near the floor, and with as few obstructions as possible around the device. Any obstacles near the router will only diminish the Wi-Fi signal, just as sure as overheating will.

If you’re in the mood for improving your Wi-Fi in general, you might want to peruse our full guide on how to boost your Wi-Fi signal strength, which includes advice on positioning, as well as technical tweaks you can apply (such as changing Wi-Fi channels). It might be worth considering a Wi-Fi extender in some scenarios, too (such as getting a better signal in your garden for the summer, perhaps).

You might also like...

• Best broadband deals for April 2025
• Wi-Fi 7: everything you need to know about the latest wireless standard
• Windows 11 24H2 update arrives in preview with important fix for blue screen crashes – but I still wouldn’t rush to install this upgrade

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 30 (game #423)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #422).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Best in class

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• DOOM
• SEED
• SLUR
• MORBID
• LIME
• SLATE

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 8 letters

NYT Strands today (game #423) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: bottom, 4th column

Last side: top, 3rd column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #423) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #423, are…

• EYES
• DRESSED
• SMILE
• COUPLE
• ATHLETE
• FRIENDS
• HAIR
• SPANGRAM: YEARBOOK

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• My rating: Moderate
• My score: Perfect

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It took me a long time to realize that today’s Strands search was YEARBOOK, or to be precise senior superlatives in yearbooks.

The first correct word I got was EYES, so I thought we could be looking for dogs, which was my initial hunch from the theme “best in class” – although the "best in show" search was not that long ago, so it would have been a quick repeat.

Thankfully, being British and extremely senior I didn’t have to go through the humiliation of yearbooks and having my mullet forever enshrined in print.

Although I get their charm as time capsules, I know I would have been voted “Most likely to bluff their way through life” rather than any of the ego-boosting categories in today’s search.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, April 29, game #422)

• TACO
• TORTOISE
• WALNUT
• NUCLEUS
• NAUTILUS
• ARMADILLO
• SPANGRAM: SHELLS

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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Starlink is now offering its satellite internet kit for free on a new plan – but not everyone can get it

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• You can now get Starlink’s setup hardware for free
• This requires a 12-month commitment to the internet service
• There’s plenty of small print, and not everyone can get it

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When you subscribe to a Starlink internet package, you normally need to pay for the cost of your new dish and router. That can be pricey, as that tech comes to $349 in the US. But a new plan from Starlink could see you get those items for absolutely nothing, potentially making it one of the best internet deals around.

The change comes as part of Starlink’s 12-month Standard Kit residential plan. You’ll still need to pay the regular monthly fee for your service, but eliminating the cost for the actual hardware could net you some significant savings.

Announcing the change on X, Starlink said that the new option would be available in “select markets.” That means you’ll need to check whether you’re actually eligible for this discount based on where you live. To do so, head to Starlink’s website, enter your address, then select Order Now to see if you’re covered.

A lower barrier to entry

(Image credit: Starlink)

Starlink’s offer might seem like a good deal, but there are some caveats to be aware of. For one thing, you only get the kit for free if you commit to a 12-month plan – you’ll need to pay the full figure if you opt for the company’s month-to-month “no commitment” plan.

As well as that, Starlink charges a ‘Change Fee’ if you change your address, cancel your service, don’t pay your bill on time, try to transfer your service to someone else, or cancel your service during the 30-day trial but don’t return your kit. If any one of those scenarios occurs, you’ll be charged the full $349 for the dish and router, although that figure is pro-rated based on how far through your 12-month commitment you are.

That means you’ll need to think carefully about whether this option is right for you.

Still, if it is, it could save you a heap of cash on the hardware you need for Starlink service. Presumably, Starlink has decided that lowering the cost of entry is worth it in order to increase subscriber numbers – and that’s good news if you were already considering signing up.

You might also like

• What is Starlink? How to get the satellite service for free on your phone with T-Mobile, plus everything you need to know
• Starlink review
• Best broadband and TV deals in April 2025

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Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #1191)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Monday, April 28 (game #1190).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1191) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1191) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1191) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1191) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1191) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• H

• H

• O

• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1191) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1191, are…

• HOVER
• HENCE
• OCTAL
• COPSE

My best decision today was to use COULD as a start word – I occasionally think WOULD is a better option, but it would have made life trickier today.

The hardest word was the last, even though I had five letters, as it was difficult to find an actual word; in the end, OCTAL was the only formation of letters I could muster and as luck would have it also an actual word.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1191) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1191, are…

• BADGE
• GNOME
• PHASE
• BELLY

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1190, Monday, 28 April: JAUNT, ALLOW, FRUIT, BURNT
• Quordle #1189, Sunday, 27 April: PRIOR, YOUTH, CREDO, CHIDE
• Quordle #1188, Saturday, 26 April: LINGO, LOCUS, THROW, CLICK
• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, April 29 (game #422)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Monday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, April 28 (game #421).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #422) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… I've got you covered

NYT Strands today (game #422) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• COAT
• SETTLE
• MATCH
• TROT
• SITE
• DOLL

NYT Strands today (game #422) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 6 letters

NYT Strands today (game #422) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 5th row

Last side: left, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #422) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #422, are…

• TACO
• TORTOISE
• WALNUT
• NUCLEUS
• NAUTILUS
• ARMADILLO
• SPANGRAM: SHELLS

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• My rating: Hard
• My score: 2 hints

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I found today’s Strands one of the most challenging for a while and needed a couple of hints to get me across the line – and even with the hints I found it difficult to see NUCLEUS and NAUTILUS.

“I've got you covered” immediately had me thinking about coverings and cases, but I didn’t immediately think we were looking for SHELLS.

The first word I saw in the grid was coat, which I thought was certain to be one of the words we were searching for.

Instead, it was an anagram of coat that was correct and TACO confused me even more. TORTOISE firmed up the theme, but after getting the Spangram and WALNUT I drew a blank.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, April 28, game #421)

• SPILL
• TOPPLE
• SLIP
• FALTER
• BLUNDER
• STUMBLE
• SPANGRAM: WHOOPSIE DAISY

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/nCiYP3B

NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, April 28 (game #421)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Sunday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #420).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… My bad!

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• BLADE
• NUMB
• DIAL
• POWER
• STEAL
• HOOPS

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #421) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 8th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #421) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #421, are…

• SPILL
• TOPPLE
• SLIP
• FALTER
• BLUNDER
• STUMBLE
• SPANGRAM: WHOOPSIE DAISY

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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I am such a clumsy person that if I enter a store filled with breakable objects I will immediately reverse back out. Once, fearful of my propensity towards calamity, I removed my backpack in a souvenir store and in the process it grazed against a display of lucky china cats, which cascaded to the floor, breaking about six of them.

I did not BLUNDER through today’s search, though. In fact, it was one of the easiest for a while and one of those rare editions of Strands where finding the hint words for this page was tougher than finding the answers.

The Spangram was quite a throwback, the sort of thing an elderly aunt might say. It wasn’t what came out of my mouth when I knocked over those cats and cursed myself for life.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Sunday, April 27, game #420)

• MASK
• EARPLUGS
• MELATONIN
• MEDITATION
• MOUTHGUARD
• SPANGRAM: BEDTIME

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

https://ift.tt/OBKjWzt

NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, April 27 (game #420)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, April 26 (game #419).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Sleep tight

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• MENTAL
• TRAM
• TRUE
• TIDE
• NOTE
• BIND

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 7 letters

NYT Strands today (game #420) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 6th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #420) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #420, are…

• MASK
• EARPLUGS
• MELATONIN
• MEDITATION
• MOUTHGUARD
• SPANGRAM: BEDTIME

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• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 hint

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My search started off well after quickly getting MASK and EARPLUGS, but then took a devious turn.

Even after getting a hint and the many letters of MELATONIN I struggled connecting the letters, which became the story of all the other words.

You could argue that the theme and spangram are inaccurate and what we were actually looking for today were sleep aids for those among us who struggle to fall asleep without assistance.

I count myself among a growing demographic trying desperately to improve their sleep quality. I actually got measured for my pillow, have a yearly app subscription just so I can listen to the same 10-minute MEDITATION every night, and have earplugs, mask, and aromatherapy spray all at hand should I struggle to reach the land of nod.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, April 26, game #419)

• POWDER
• BRONZER
• PRIMER
• CONCEALER
• FOUNDATION
• SPANGRAM: MAKEUP EXAM

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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WhatsApp says forcing blue Meta AI circle on everyone is a ‘good thing’ despite fierce backlash

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• WhatsApp has commented on its controversial new Meta AI assistant
• The messaging app says it's a "good thing" despite a mixed reception
• WhatsApp has separately rolled out a new 'Advanced Chat Privacy' tool

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WhatsApp has defended the wider rollout of its Meta AI assistant inside the popular messaging app, despite some significant pushback from users.

Earlier this month, Meta rolled out the AI assistant – represented by a blue ring in the bottom-right corner of your WhatsApp chats – across several new countries in the EU, the UK, and Australia.

Because WhatsApp is very popular in those regions – more so than the likes of Apple's iMessage – there was a vocal backlash to its arrival on platforms like Reddit, particularly as it isn't possible to turn the feature off. But WhatsApp has now commented on those concerns for the first time.

In a statement to the BBC, WhatsApp said: "We think giving people these options is a good thing and we're always listening to feedback from our users". It added that it considers the feature to be similar to other permanent features in the app, like 'channels'.

Although the Meta AI circle hovers permanently in your chats section, it doesn't actually have access to your chats. Meta's Help pages state that "your personal messages with friends and family are off limits", while the Meta AI chat window states that "it can only read messages people share with it".

Still, some privacy concerns remain, so this week WhatsApp introduced a new feature called "Advanced Chat Privacy" to help soothe any remaining concerns.

A privacy peace offering

(Image credit: WhatsApp)

While it isn't possible to turn off Meta AI in WhatsApp (it's also now integrated into the app's search bar), you will soon be able to use "Advanced Chat Privacy" to prevent others from using your chats in other AI apps.

The new setting, which is "rolling out to everyone on the latest version of WhatsApp", is designed to stop people from taking anything you share in WhatsApp outside of chats and groups. When it's turned on, your friends and contacts are blocked from "exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features".

We haven't yet seen the feature in action, but you'll be able to turn it on by tapping on a chat name, then tapping the new "Advanced Chat Privacy" option. WhatsApp says this is also just the first version of the feature, with more protections en route to help you avoid a personal Signalgate fiasco.

That's likely to be a more popular move than baking Meta AI in WhatsApp, although a recent poll on the TechRadar WhatsApp channel shows the latter hasn't been universally condemned.

While the biggest chunk of our poll respondents (42%) said they would "never" use the Meta AI assistant in WhatsApp, a significant number (41%) said they would "maybe, sometimes" tap the blue ring, while 17% said they planned to use Meta's ChatGPT equivalent "regularly". Perhaps, like the prison walls in The Shawshank Redemption, we'll one day grow to depend on it.

You might also like

• From novelty to nuisance: The AI revolution no one wanted is sweeping all before it
• WhatsApp has just dropped these 9 new features – including 2 that I'm not happy about
• WhatsApp patches worrying vulnerability which allowed hackers to share .exe files as images

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Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, April 26 (game #1188)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, April 25 (game #1187).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1188) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• L

• L

• T

• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1188) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1188, are…

• LINGO
• LOCUS
• THROW
• CLICK

Yet another case of picking the wrong answer from a couple of alternatives. I’m going to put guessing CLIFF instead of CLICK down to (bad) luck, rather than intuition.

In hindsight, commonality nearly always wins and a double-F is much less likely than a CK. According to Merriam-Webster there are 34 5-letter words ending FF and 80 ending CK.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1188) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1188, are…

• MACAW
• LUNCH
• BRAID
• STAND

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1187, Friday, 25 April: SHALT, WRATH, MAMBO, HUMPH
• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK

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Quordle hints and answers for Friday, April 25 (game #1187)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Thursday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #1186).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1187) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• W

• M

• H

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1187) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1187, are…

• SHALT
• WRATH
• MAMBO
• HUMPH

A seven-guess finish was denied when I guessed BUMPH instead of HUMPH. Both are quite obscure words, with HUMPH – which describes a sound of doubt or contempt – perfectly encapsulating my thoughts about its appearance in today's puzzle. You could say I'm in a right hump about it.

This small wriggle aside, I managed to get home without too much taxing thought, despite quite an odd set of words.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1187) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1187, are…

• DRYER
• ADAPT
• LEVEL
• NOOSE

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1186, Thursday, 24 April: CHOKE, COLOR, FRAME, CAIRN
• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
• Quordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGAT

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Microsoft Edge browser could put Copilot AI front and center – but that might just be a good thing

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• Microsoft appears to be mulling the idea of building Edge’s new tab page around Copilot
• The new layout for the page is still hidden in testing, though, so it’s still very early days
• It looks more streamlined, dispensing with MSN content on the face of it, though it’s not clear if that’s how the final implementation will pan out

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Microsoft Edge already has the Copilot AI assistant built in, but now it’s been spotted taking center stage in the web browser’s new tab page (known as NTP for short).

Windows Latest flagged up that this change (first noticed on Reddit) is present in the Canary (earliest) testing channel for Edge, although it’s not active by default. You must enable various experimental flags behind the scenes to get it working.

To explain the NTP briefly, whenever you create a new tab in Edge, this is what you see. Effectively it’s a (kind of) blank canvas, and right now in the release version of Microsoft’s web browser it contains a central search box (for firing up a Bing search) which is complemented by MSN feed material. (You can customize the latter to show very little of the feed, or have it cover most of the screen – in the latter case, the NTP isn’t such a blank canvas).

With the new scheme of things seen in testing, all that is replaced by a central Copilot prompt.

You can still type in a search query – as you would with the current search box – but alternatively, you can ask the AI assistant anything you would elsewhere (such as via Copilot on the web, or in the Windows taskbar, or Copilot in the Edge side panel for that matter).

There are shortcut buttons below the Copilot prompt box on the NTP, allowing the user to click to ‘write a draft’ or to ‘learn something new’ and so forth.

Windows Latest further points out that there’s also a small dropdown menu that allows you to adjust how the NTP works. The ‘Default’ setting here is a mix of search and chat suggestions, so based on what you type in the Copilot prompt, theoretically Edge will determine whether you’ll get a fuller AI response, or a simple Bing search result.

Alternatively, you can select ‘Search and Navigate’ which is focused on web searching (with no AI responses), or there’s a ‘Chat’ setting which offers a conversational experience with Copilot.

In other words, you can go for a more traditional search (as is currently the case with the NTP), a full-on AI experience, or a mix of the two (by default) with Edge hopefully making intelligent decisions about what needs to be done based on your initial query.

(Image credit: Windows Latest / Microsoft)

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Analysis: More AI, but more streamlined (for now)

Remember, all of this isn’t even in testing yet, it’s still in the early stages of being readied to be tried out in the Canary channel. The ‘Chat’ setting mentioned above doesn’t work at all yet – it just brings up a Bing search result – and the shortcut buttons (for the likes of writing a draft) don’t work either. As such, this is still a rough idea, and it could well change before it’s fully enabled even for testers.

We can see the direction that Microsoft is thinking of heading in, though, and this overhauled NTP certainly has positive aspects. It’s a lot less cluttered and the refreshed new tab page looks commendably clean, notably rid of the MSN feed gunk that a lot of folks aren’t keen on.

There are people who will argue that it’s just Microsoft pushing AI and Copilot in yet another way, but to be fair to the software giant, there is a choice to dispense with the AI responses (by electing for the basic ‘search’ option). And also, if that’s the price we must pay to get a more streamlined NTP with no MSN content peppered about, then it’s arguably well worth paying.

That said, as Windows Latest also points out, Microsoft is testing MSN content within Copilot (on Android currently), and it’s quite possible that this (personalized and targeted) material will be served via the Copilot box on Edge’s refreshed NTP. It might not pan out that way, but it seems unlikely that Microsoft is going to stop pushing its network content anytime soon.

You might also like

• I’ve tried the new Opera Air browser – here are 3 features that have already convinced me to ditch Chrome
• Microsoft gets rid of ‘Edge uninstall’ advice page after facing criticism over it having nothing to do with removing the app, and just promoting the browser instead
• How to use Microsoft Edge

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NYT Strands hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #417)

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, April 23 (game #416).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #1 - today's theme

What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Coarse material

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SNAP
• COOL
• SLOTH
• NEST
• SOAK
• FOOL

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #3 - spangram letters

How many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 10 letters

NYT Strands today (game #417) - hint #4 - spangram position

What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: top, 3rd column

Last side: bottom, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #417) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #417, are…

• SANDPAPER
• ROPE
• PUMICE
• BARK
• LOOFAH
• SACKCLOTH
• SPANGRAM: ROUGH STUFF

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• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

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Today's theme had me immediately searching for SANDPAPER and that was indeed the first word I found.

Several peculiar bathtime items made it into our search for ROUGH STUFF – LOOFAH and PUMICE. Both items that few under the age of 50 own, but with natural exfoliating abilities that have stood the test of time.

I used to think that loofahs were the remains of a seaplant, like sponges, but they are actually a dried gourd, a sort of long pumpkin primarily used for scrubbing backs. The pumice comes from a similar old-school place, a porous piece of volcanic rock that’s good for cleaning and polishing.

The bizarre wonder of the pumice was celebrated in song by elderly English songwriter John Shuttleworth recently, who marvelled at its otherworldly wonder and crooned “I loved it so, it worked a treat, in removing hard skin from my feet”. Every home should have one.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Wednesday, April 23, game #416)

• PEACH
• CATERPILLAR
• CHENILLE
• DUCKLING
• SLIPPERS
• SPANGRAM: GET FUZZY

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What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

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Quordle hints and answers for Thursday, April 24 (game #1186)

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, April 23 (game #1185).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #1 - Vowels

How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #2 - repeated letters

Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #3 - uncommon letters

Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)

Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 3.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1186) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)

What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• C

• C

• F

• C

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1186) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1186, are…

• CHOKE
• COLOR
• FRAME
• CAIRN

I am really glad I had a word beginning with C among my start words. Without it I wouldn’t have unlocked the magnificent headstart of getting the first letter of three words.

CHOKE was my only gamble and that came from a memory of it being used in Quordle before, while FRAME was the only option I had with the letters available.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

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Daily Sequence today (game #1186) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1186, are…

• SHEEP
• RAVEN
• WISER
• CLANK

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Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1185, Wednesday, 23 April: VALET, PUPAL, CREEP, DRIFT
• Quordle #1184, Tuesday, 22 April: POUTY, CHEST, BROOM, TEPEE
• Quordle #1183, Monday, 21 April: SHARD, PRINT, SUMAC, LEACH
• Quordle #1182, Sunday, 20 April: DINER, HORDE, SHONE, FUGUE
• Quordle #1181, Saturday, 19 April: GRADE, LAUGH, RAINY, EXULT
• Quordle #1180, Friday, 18 April: DEBUT, GLADE, BASTE, PESTO
• Quordle #1179, Thursday, 17 April: SPRAY, RAMEN, SHELF, COURT
• Quordle #1178, Wednesday 16 April: STUMP, GRAFT, CHORD, INPUT
• Quordle #1177, Tuesday 15 April: SLEET, MERIT, HARSH, FORAY
• Quordle #1176, Monday 14 April: DRAWL, CROOK, ACTOR, LANCE
• Quordle #1175, Sunday 13 April: SHALE, KINKY, SHORN, WHOOP
• Quordle #1174, Saturday 12 April: BLIND, OVOID, CACHE, THING
• Quordle #1173, Friday 11 April: FOLLY, PITHY, SCOWL, CURLY
• Quordle #1172, Thursday 10 April: LEAST, SEWER, UNTIE, NOOSE
• Quordle #1171, Wednesday 9 April: LITHE, LEFTY, KNOLL, MULCH
• Quordle #1170, Tuesday 8 April: WIDTH, VISOR, MEDAL, BROOK
• Quordle #1169, Monday 7 April: BROTH, SHOUT, BRUTE, CABIN
• Quordle #1168, Sunday 6 April: AMBER, GAUZE, STORE, SLICK
• Quordle #1167, Saturday 5 April: GUSTY, VAULT, WHINE, BEGAT
• Quordle #1166, Friday 4 April: OAKEN, LOOPY, CURIO, BUTTE

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I can't wait to try Edits, Instagram's answer to CapCut, and it's out now as a free download

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• Instagram Edits is out now as a free video editor on Android and iOS
• It's Meta's answer to CapCut with a major emphasis on integration with the main Instagram platform
• Edits also features some AI-powered tools like Cutouts and Animate

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Instagram’s answer to CapCut is finally here. Edits was first teased by Adam Mosseri, the Meta-owned social media giant's head, in mid-January, as TikTok was facing its first ban in the US. It was originally supposed to launch in February, then March, but here we are in April, and today’s the day.

As initially promised, Instagram Edits is available for free on Android and iOS. It lands as a familiar timeline-based editor offering deep integration with Instagram, meaning you can view your metrics, watch other Reels, browse through all the available sounds and audio clips, and even apply popular effects.

Unlike CapCut, which is owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, or other video-editing apps for mobile, Instagram is billing Edits as a one-stop shop. As you can see from the screenshots below, there's a lot of focus on creation and ideation.

Beyond importing video, making cuts, adding text, and implementing effects, you can use sticky notes of sorts to create lists of ideas or manage various projects.

(Image credit: Instagram)

As noted above, you can watch other Reels and browse for them without leaving the app. Plus, you’ll have the ability to save notes associated with them – maybe it’s one you want to remix or just an excellent custom audio you want to use in your next video.

The big appeal, though, for the Instagram faithful is a promised high-quality camera for "enhanced video recording." This way, you can capture and edit right in the app, versus shooting in another app and then moving it into Instagram. Again, as a trend for Meta, the goal is to own the whole process.

Now, whether you shoot in the app or import, there are plenty of editing tools available. Mosseri initially teased that Edits would have all the tools you’d expect, and those are here. Instagram is tossing in some more unique ones, though, including the ability to pull from popular effects like a green screen.

More advanced effects, like Cutouts, which allows you to isolate a person or object on screen with tracking, or Antimate, which likely utilizes a Meta LLM, can turn images into video for engaging moments, are also included.

Both seem pretty handy, and are located at the very bottom of the interface as a row of tools. Above it, you’ll have a classic timeline that harkens back to iMovie and looks quite reminiscent of CapCut. You’ll have your main video track with audio below it, as well as room for on-screen elements like text or overlays.

(Image credit: Instagram)

While I haven’t tried Edits yet, the core functions seem to be on a par with those of other video editors, and it should be easy enough to quickly create an edit with drag-and-drop, cuts, splits, and more. Edits also has a Captions tool, as well as options to record a voiceover and add other elements.

Instagram is also promising to listen to feedback, and already has a list of features that are set to arrive in the next few updates to Edits, including the ability to use AI to modify videos, likely with a prompt; keyframes, collaboration features, and an expansion to built-in elements like fonts, filters, and voice effects, among other things.

The platform also promises to listen to feedback on Edits and use it to inform the development roadmap. I'm curious to see how Edits stacks up, given that CapCut, which I use quite a bit, disappeared for a while TikTok was banned. You can edit up to 10 minutes of video, and Instagram promises watermark-free exports to its own platform as well as general saves to the device.

Additionally, while the AI features aren’t make or break, they could let creators spice up content, and I like the promised functionality of Cutouts. So, yes, while the design does resemble CapCut, that platform didn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel of video editing on the fly.

If anything, Instagram launching Edits as a free video editor on iOS and Android should inspire some new features for competing apps to help level the playing field. If you’re interested in trying Edits, it’s rolling out now for Android and iOS.

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