Wordle 1638 Hints for December 13, 2025
Need help with today’s Wordle? Here are progressive hints to guide you toward the solution without immediately revealing the answer.
Hint 1: Word Type
- Today’s Wordle is a noun
- It describes a type of person
- Has a negative connotation
- Refers to someone’s character trait
- Related to money and possessions
- Often used as an insult or criticism
Hint 2: Letter Information
- The word contains 5 letters
- It has 2 vowels (I and E)
- No repeated letters
- All letters are relatively common in English
- Classic vocabulary word
Hint 3: Starting Letter
- Today’s Wordle starts with M
- It ends with the letter R
Hint 4: Definition Clue
- This word describes someone who is extremely stingy
- A person who hoards wealth and spends very little
- Synonyms include penny-pincher, skinflint, or scrooge
- Think of Ebenezer Scrooge from “A Christmas Carol”
- Someone who refuses to spend money even when they have it
- The opposite of generous or charitable
Hint 5: Usage Context
- “He’s such a _____ that he won’t even buy himself lunch”
- “The old _____ counted every penny twice”
- “Don’t be a _____ with your compliments”
- Often associated with greed and selfishness
- A classic character type in literature
Hint 6: Literary Connection
- This word is especially fitting for December
- Dickens’ famous character Scrooge is the quintessential example
- “A Christmas Carol” features a character who embodies this trait
- The word comes from Latin meaning “wretched” or “miserable”
- Often associated with unhappiness caused by excessive frugality
Wordle 1638 Answer for December 13, 2025
Ready for the solution? Here it is:
The Wordle 1638 answer is MISER
This fitting December word describes someone who hoards wealth and refuses to spend money—perfectly embodied by Ebenezer Scrooge before his Christmas transformation!
How I Solved Wordle 1638
Here’s my solving journey for today’s puzzle, which took 6 attempts:
Attempt 1: LEAVE
My starting word was LEAVE, which revealed:
- E appears in the word (yellow – position 2 was wrong)
- L, A, and V were eliminated (gray)
A decent start with one confirmed vowel needing repositioning.
Attempt 2: GREED
Trying a thematically appropriate word about money (coincidentally!):
- R in position 4 turned yellow (appears in word but wrong position)
- E in position 3 turned yellow (still wrong position)
- G and D were eliminated (gray)
Good progress! Now I had E and R to place correctly, plus eliminated more letters.
Attempt 3: DRIES
Attempting to place R and E in different positions:
- R in position 2 turned yellow (still wrong position)
- I in position 3 turned yellow (appears in word but wrong position)
- E in position 4 turned yellow (still wrong position)
- S in position 5 turned yellow (appears in word but wrong position)
- D was eliminated (gray)
Lots of yellow letters! I now knew the word contained R, I, E, and S, but all in wrong positions.
Attempt 4: RISES
Trying to rearrange R, I, S, E with confirmed letters:
- R in position 1 turned yellow (still wrong position—R is very mobile!)
- I in position 2 turned green! ✓
- S in position 3 turned green! ✓
- E in position 4 turned green! ✓
- S in position 5 turned gray (eliminated)
Excellent! Pattern: ISE with R still needing placement. Wait, RISES has two S’s but only the middle one is in the word.
Attempt 5: WISER
With _ISER pattern emerging:
- W in position 1 turned gray (eliminated)
- I in position 2 – green! ✓
- S in position 3 – green! ✓
- E in position 4 – green! ✓
- R in position 5 – green! ✓
So close! Pattern: _ISER. Just needed the first letter.
Attempt 6: MISER
With _ISER confirmed, finding the starting letter:
- M in position 1 – green! ✓
- I in position 2 – green! ✓
- S in position 3 – green! ✓
- E in position 4 – green! ✓
- R in position 5 – green! ✓
Success! Wordle 1638 solved in 6 attempts—just in time!
Why MISER Was Today’s Wordle
MISER is a brilliant Wordle choice, especially for mid-December because it:
Seasonal Relevance: With Christmas approaching, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and Scrooge come to mind—the ultimate miser.
Classic Vocabulary: A well-known word that’s part of standard English vocabulary.
Letter Placement Challenge: The letters R, I, S, E appeared in yellow multiple times, requiring careful repositioning.
Multiple Possibilities: The _ISER pattern could fit several words (RISER, WISER, MISER), adding difficulty.
Literary Connection: Strong associations with classic literature and character archetypes.
Letter Analysis
- M – Moderately common starting letter (about 2.5% frequency)
- I – Common vowel in various positions
- S – Very frequent consonant
- E – Most common letter in English
- R – Very common consonant, especially at word endings
Alternative Solving Paths
Different starting words would have led to varied experiences:
If you started with STARE:
- Would have revealed S, E, and R immediately
- Could lead to 4-5 attempt solution
If you started with RISER:
- Would have revealed R, I, S, E, and R
- Very close to MISER, possible 2-3 attempt solution
If you started with MISER:
- Would solve in 1 attempt (but unlikely starting word!)
If you started with PROSE:
- Would have revealed R, S, and E
- Good foundation for finding MISER
My LEAVE start required the full 6 attempts, showing how letter placement can be tricky even when you identify most letters early!
Best Starting Words for Wordle
Ready to test your word-solving skills? Head over to The New York Times Wordle to play today’s puzzle!
While my LEAVE start worked eventually, here are consistently strong opening words:
- STARE – Tests common consonants and vowels
- RAISE – Would have been excellent for today’s MISER
- ARISE – Contains many letters from MISER
- RESIN – Tests R, E, S, I, N combination
- SIREN – Similar letter combination
For today’s MISER, words with R, I, S, E would have been most efficient.
Wordle Strategies That Helped Today
Several key strategies contributed to solving this puzzle:
Vowel Identification: Finding E and I early helped narrow possibilities significantly.
Systematic Position Testing: When letters appear yellow multiple times, methodically trying different positions is crucial.
Pattern Recognition: Once I had _ISER, thinking about common five-letter words with that ending helped.
Letter Frequency Awareness: Knowing common starting letters helped narrow down M for the final guess.
Elimination Process: Each guess systematically eliminated letters and confirmed positions.
Persistence: Taking all 6 attempts shows that sometimes the puzzle requires patience!
Common Words with Similar Patterns
If you were stuck on the ISER or MI__ pattern, here are related words you might have considered:
_ISER words:
- RISER – Different starting letter
- WISER – My fifth guess!
- MISER – The correct answer
- VISER – Less common, archaic spelling
- GISER – Not a valid word
MI___ words:
- MISER – Today’s solution
- MINED – Different ending
- MIXER – Different middle letters
- MINOR – Different pattern
- MIDST – Different ending
The Perfect December Word
The timing of MISER in mid-December is particularly clever, as it connects to one of the most famous characters in literature.
Charles Dickens’ Influence
“A Christmas Carol” (1843): Dickens’ novella featuring Ebenezer Scrooge, the archetypal miser, is read and performed worldwide during the Christmas season.
Cultural Impact: Scrooge’s name became synonymous with miserly behavior. Phrases like “Don’t be a Scrooge” are common.
Transformation Story: The tale of a miser who learns generosity is a powerful narrative that resonates across cultures.
Modern Relevance: The story reminds us about the importance of generosity, especially during the holiday season.
Tips for Future Wordle Puzzles
Based on today’s MISER challenge, here are strategies to improve your game:
Don’t Rush Yellow Letters: When multiple letters appear yellow, take time to systematically test different positions.
Consider Word Endings: Common endings like -ISER, -TION, -NESS can help narrow options.
Think Thematically: Around holidays, Wordle sometimes features seasonally relevant words.
Use All Six Attempts if Needed: There’s no shame in taking all six guesses—solving is what matters!
Track Letter Positions: Keep mental notes of which positions you’ve tested for each yellow letter.
Consider Less Common Starting Letters: When stuck with a pattern, think beyond common starters like S, T, or C.
The Word “Miser” in Context
Beyond being today’s Wordle answer, “miser” is a fascinating word in English:
Definition:
- (noun) A person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible
- Someone excessively frugal to the point of self-denial
Etymology: From Latin “miser” meaning “wretched, unhappy, pitiable.” The connection between miserliness and misery is built into the word’s origin.
Common Usage:
- “The old miser refused to heat his house even in winter”
- “He’s a miser with both his money and his affection”
- “Despite being wealthy, she lived like a miser”
Famous Literary Misers:
- Ebenezer Scrooge – “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens
- Harpagon – “The Miser” by Molière
- Silas Marner – George Eliot’s novel
- Shylock – “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare
Related Words:
- Miserly (adjective): Characteristic of a miser
- Miserliness (noun): The quality of being miserly
- Miserable: Sharing the same Latin root, suggesting the unhappiness wealth-hoarding brings
Synonyms: Penny-pincher, skinflint, tightwad, cheapskate, scrooge
Antonyms: Spendthrift, philanthropist, benefactor, generous person
Wordle 1638 Difficulty Rating
On a scale of 1-10, I’d rate today’s Wordle as a 7/10 in difficulty:
Challenging Factors:
- Multiple letters appearing yellow in various positions
- Several valid words with _ISER pattern
- Required 6 attempts even with good guesses
- R appeared yellow in multiple positions before finding its spot
- Less common starting letter (M)
Easier Aspects:
- All common letters
- Well-known vocabulary word
- No double letters
- Strong cultural associations help with recognition
The Psychology of Misers
Since today’s answer is MISER, it’s worth considering why miserliness exists:
Fear of Scarcity: Often stems from past experiences of poverty or insecurity.
Control Issues: Hoarding money can represent an attempt to control an unpredictable world.
Depression-Era Legacy: Many people raised during economic hardships developed extreme frugality.
Opposite Extreme: Just as overspending can be problematic, extreme underspending affects quality of life.
The Balance: Healthy financial behavior lies between reckless spending and miserly hoarding.
More Daily Puzzle Challenges
Love daily puzzle games? Check out our other guides:
- Bandle Hints and Answer for December 13, 2025 – Today’s music challenge featuring Coldplay’s “Clocks”
- Wordle 1637 Hints and Answer for December 12, 2025 – Yesterday’s word puzzle featuring TRUCK
- Globle Hints and Answer for December 13, 2025 – Today’s geography challenge
Did You Get Today’s Wordle?
Whether you solved Wordle 1638 in two guesses or needed all six attempts (like me!), every puzzle is a learning experience. The journey from LEAVE to GREED to DRIES to RISES to WISER to MISER shows how persistence and systematic thinking lead to success—even when letters keep appearing in wrong positions!
The thematic connection between my second guess (GREED) and the final answer (MISER) was purely coincidental but fitting. Both words relate to excessive attachment to money!
A Holiday Reminder
Today’s answer, MISER, arrives at the perfect time of year. As we approach the holidays, the story of Scrooge reminds us that hoarding wealth brings misery, while generosity brings joy. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the message about the importance of kindness and generosity is universal.
Don’t be a miser with your words of encouragement, your time, or your compassion. And definitely don’t be a miser with your Wordle hints—share them with friends who might be stuck!
Tomorrow’s Wordle
Wordle 1639 will be available on December 14, 2025. Will it be another seasonally appropriate word, or something completely different? Come back for more hints, strategies, and solving paths to keep your winning streak alive!
Remember, Wordle is about the journey as much as the destination. Taking all six attempts to solve MISER doesn’t diminish the accomplishment—you figured it out, and that’s what counts!
Share your Wordle 1638 results and solving path with friends. Did you find MISER faster than my 6-attempt marathon? And remember—be generous with your holiday spirit, but feel free to be a little miserly with your Wordle guesses (save those attempts!). Good luck with tomorrow’s puzzle!