Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for February 2

It's Thursday, which means it's nearly Friday, which means it's nearly Saturday! But we're getting ahead of ourselves: first, there's a new Wordle. (Will the weekend still come if you don't solve it? Probably, but who's to say for sure?) If you're ever feeling stuck, we're here to help, every day.

The bottom of this article features February 2's Wordle solution. If that's not why you're here, scroll down and see what's on offer here, from clues, to strategies. You'll find what you need.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans have even sprung up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for February 1.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The goal of Wordle is to have fun, and there's no right way to have fun. Just choose whatever starting word feels right to you, and don't let anyone shame you for it. However, if you want to take a more strategic approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that will spark joy. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordles used to be available for anyone to play in glorious days gone by. Unfortunately it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It may feel as though Wordle is getting harder, but we can assure you it isn't. Conversely, if you're finding it too easy, you can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode.

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Occasionally the Wordle gods will accept two different answers on a single day, defying the accepted norm of one correct solution per day. This anomaly is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game.

The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It rhymes with its opposite, kinda.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

If you want to guess today's Wordle yourself, now's the time to do so! 

Is your answer locked in?

The solution to Wordle #593 is...

SHIRK.

Don't be sad if you didn't get it this time — we still have many more Wordle puzzles ahead of us. Come back tomorrow for more helpful clues and hints!

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.