While these days Wordle is a global sensation, it has very humble origins.

The word-based puzzle was invented during the Coronavirus lockdown by New York-based software developer Josh Wardle. He created it in the hope it would keep his crossword-loving partner, Palak Shah, entertained.

“[My partner] and I play it on the couch together each morning,” Wardle previously told Newsweek. “She will consistently get it in three goes, which is way, way better than I can ever hope to achieve. I normally need at least four or five attempts.”

In October 2021, Wardle released Wordle to the general public, and it developed a dedicated fan base around the world, with some players taking to social media each day to share hints as well as their results.

Wordle exploded from 90 users on November 1, 2021, to 300,000 on January 2, 2022, according to figures by Statista. Within four months it reached 2 million players. It was this popularity that allowed Wardle to sell the game to the New York Times in January 2022 for an undisclosed low seven-figure sum.

Players need to solve a mystery five-letter word in six guesses or fewer and are guided by a color-coded tile system to let them know if they are on the right track. A green tile means the letter is correct, while yellow tells you the letter appears in the word, but is in the wrong spot. Finally, a gray tile shows that the letter does not appear in the word at all.

During his conversation with Newsweek, Wardle was hesitant to give away any strategies or tips for solving his daily puzzles.

“I think with this sort of game, part of the joy is discovering those things for yourself, right?” he said.

“So I’m reluctant to tell anybody how they should play. I would encourage people to experiment with different ideas and to find their own [starting] words, rather than just sticking to the same proven tactics over and over again.”

The answer to Tuesday’s puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself.

Wordle #1,116 Clues for Tuesday, July 9

If you’re struggling, Newsweek has put together five clues to help you out.

Hint #1: Today’s answer is a verb and a noun.

Hint #2: It contains two vowels.

Hint #3: There are no repeated letters.

Hint #4: When spelled slightly differently, the word can be used as a name.

Hint #5: Synonyms include “roar” and “boom.”

‘Wordle’ #1,116 Answer for Tuesday, July 9

Today’s Wordle answer is “Blare.”

According to Merriam-Webster, the intransitive verb is defined as “to sound loud and strident.” The transitive verb is defined as “to sound or utter raucously” and “to proclaim flamboyantly.”

The noun is described as “a loud strident noise” and “dazzling often garish brilliance.”

Wordle updates every day at midnight in your local time zone, at which point the next puzzle becomes available. Newsweek will be back with another round of hints and tips for each new game.

Players who would like something to keep themselves busy while they wait can have a go at other word-based puzzles such as Typochondria and Spellspire.