Honestly, Wordle is the ultimate morning routine disruptor. You wake up, grab a coffee, and think you're going to breeze through five letters in three tries. Then, the grid happens. If you're staring at a mess of yellow and gray for the Wordle answer today Nov 28, don't feel bad. It's a weird one.
The puzzle for Friday, November 28, 2025 (Puzzle #1623), is officially COLIC.
Why Today's Wordle Is Such a Pain
If you’ve ever been around a newborn, you know exactly what this word means. It’s that period of inconsolable crying that makes new parents want to pull their hair out. But as a word in a game? It’s a bit of a nightmare.
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Most people start with a heavy-vowel hitter like ADIEU or AUDIO. If you did that today, you probably felt pretty good seeing the O and the I light up. But then what? The structure of COLIC is what we call a "sandwich" word. Having the same consonant at the beginning and the end—in this case, the letter C—is a classic NYT move to keep the win rate from getting too high.
Breaking Down the Strategy
Let's talk about the letter distribution.
- Vowels: Two (O and I).
- Repeated letters: One (C).
- Starting letter: C.
- Ending letter: C.
Most players don't jump to double consonants early. We're trained to hunt for different letters to "eliminate the board." When you guess something like LOGIC (which a lot of people did today, based on social media trends), you get almost all the way there. But that final swap from L to C at the start is the difference between a "Phew!" and a "Great!"
According to the MIT analysis often cited by puzzle enthusiasts, starting words like SALET or CRANE are statistically superior. If you started with CRANE today, you got that green C right out of the gate, which probably saved your streak.
The Evolution of the Wordle Answer Today Nov 28
It's interesting to look back at how these puzzles are curated. Ever since the New York Times bought the game from Josh Wardle, the "vibe" of the words has changed. Tracy Bennett, the current editor, hand-picks these. Sometimes they are topical. Last year, on November 28, 2024, the answer was CHOCK.
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Wait, did you notice that?
Last year's word started with C and ended with a K. This year, we start with C and end with a C. The editors clearly have a sense of humor, or at least a very specific affinity for hard-sounding consonants around late November.
How to Save Your Streak Next Time
If you struggled with COLIC, you aren't alone. It’s a medical term, sure, but it’s not exactly a word we use in casual conversation unless there's a baby involved.
- Don't Fear the Double: If you're on guess four and nothing is making sense, try repeating a letter you already found.
- Watch the Vowel Placement: The I in the fourth spot is relatively rare compared to it being in the second or third.
- Burn a Guess: If you have _ O _ I C and you're stuck between SONIC, TOPIC, and COLIC, use a word that contains S, T, and L. It won't be the answer, but it will tell you which one is.
The game is as much about logic as it is about vocabulary. Sometimes, you just have to step away from the phone for ten minutes and let your brain reset.
What to Do Now
Now that you've kept your streak alive (or mourned its loss), you can dive into the other NYT staples. Connections today is particularly tricky with its "Word Parts" category, and Strands is leaning heavily into a "Winter Comfort" theme.
If you're looking to sharpen your skills for tomorrow, try practicing with a word archive. While the original archive was pulled down, many clones exist that let you play historical puzzles. It's the best way to get used to the "Bennett-era" vocabulary shifts. Keep those greens coming.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your stats: See if today's "C" sandwich lowered your average guess count.
- Switch your starter: If you're still using ADIEU, consider switching to STARE or TRACE for better consonant coverage.
- Review the rules: Remember that Wordle does not use plurals ending in "S" as solutions, so stop wasting guesses on words like BOATS or CHIPS.