Shrinkle
Rate itRemove letters from two words one at a time, keeping a real word at every step, to find the day's hidden phrase.
on shrinkle.org
Shrinkle gives you two words each day and asks you to shrink them. You click a letter to remove it, and what is left must still be a valid word; keep going down the longest path and the two final words together make a hidden phrase. Every player gets the same numbered puzzle, and past days are in an archive.
About Shrinkle
Shrinkle is a free browser word game inspired by Wordle but built on subtraction rather than guessing. The first puzzle went out on 28 July 2025, and each later day has its own number, the same for every player.
A puzzle starts with two words. For each one you click a letter to delete it, and the remaining letters, in the same order, must form a real word. The first puzzle, for example, started from VALLEYS, which can shrink to VALLEY, ALLEY, ALLY and finally ALL. Each starting word has several paths, and the game nudges you when you find a valid word that is off the target route.
Follow both words down their longest chains and the two last words form the day's hidden phrase. A new puzzle arrives at midnight, a streak counter tracks consecutive days, and the archive lets you play every earlier puzzle. You have three mistakes before the game ends, and words that are valid but off the target path count as detours, with no penalty. The site shows ads at the side of the page on a wide screen.
It suits players who enjoy word ladders and anagram-style puzzles and want something short with a small reveal at the end.
How to play Shrinkle
- Open Shrinkle to see today's two starting words.
- Tap a letter in either word to remove it; the letters left, in the same order, must still make a real word.
- Keep removing one letter at a time, watching for the Perfect! message that says you are on the target path.
- If a removal makes a valid word off the path, treat it as a detour and look for another letter; a removal that makes no word costs one of your three mistakes.
- Shrink both words to the end of their chains to reveal the hidden phrase, then share your result or open the archive.
Screenshots
Tips
- Plural S and endings like Y or E are often the first letters you can drop.
- If you land on a valid word that is not on the target path, step back and try another letter.
- Think about the phrase: once one end word is known, it can hint at the other.
Questions
Is the puzzle the same for everyone?
Yes. Puzzles are numbered from 28 July 2025, and everyone plays the same one each day.
When does a new puzzle come out?
At midnight, with a countdown shown after you finish.
Can I play earlier puzzles?
Yes, the archive lists every past puzzle by date.
How many mistakes can I make?
Three. A removal that leaves no valid word is a mistake; a valid word off the target path is only a detour and costs nothing.
Ratings and reviews
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