Year archive
Red Herring 2021 Answers
All 365 boards published in 2021, month by month
365 boards and 5,840 words from 2021. Each entry lists that day's three group themes, so a puzzle you half-remember can be found by scanning rather than clicking.
365Boards in 2021
5,840Words this year
12Months covered
3,529Boards in total
Year archive
Red Herring 2021 Answers
All 365 boards published in 2021, 5,840 words in total. Each entry shows that day's three group themes. Jump to the full archive or the Red Herring hub.
JJanuary 202131 boards
January 1
On the Road to St. Ives · Engine · Chicago Teams
January 2
Nuts · They Played Jack Ryan · Wayans Brothers
January 3
Pepperidge Farm Cookies · Sherlock Holmes People · US Bays
January 4
Party · Medical TV Shows · Computer Commands
January 5
Surgical · Aroma · Wedding Elements
January 6
Restaurant Founders · the Question · Seuss Title Characters
January 7
Military, in Slang · Football Movies · Sea Turtles
January 8
Needle · Culinary Syrups · Bee
January 9
Forked Implements · Instrument Tools · Chicken Pieces
January 10
boat · Women's Jacket Dimensions · Jeans Elements
January 11
European Rivers · stone · Undesirable Auto
January 12
Illinois Universities · Knife · Chowder Varieties
January 13
Scott Joplin "Rags" · Canadian Pro Athlete · Carnivores
January 14
"Tron" Characters · Golf Nicknames · Fictional Billionaires
January 15
They Mean "Bit" · Peter Pan's Lost Boys · Stooges
January 16
Green —, Characters · Things That Sting · Astronomy Terms
January 17
Apprehend · Hit · Footwear
January 18
head · They Can Be Drawn · On the Fridge Door
January 19
hood · Classic Leading Men · Famous Julias
January 20
Cut · Play Rehearsal Terms · Sock Types
January 21
Heels · Salads · Physically Encourage
January 22
Equine Car Models · Jump · Bean
January 23
Banana · Nothing · Terms of Endearment
January 24
Moon · Famous Harrisons · Classic Dog Names
January 25
Table · Homophones of Letters · Worn on the Wrist
January 26
Chicken Breeds · Native Names · Famous Avenues
January 27
Nicknames for Kids · Tom Hanks Films · Compress
January 28
Famous Pro Team Owners · 1990s TV Characters · Sandwiches
January 29
Wall Framing Terms · Pearl Jam Albums · Talented Athlete
January 30
English Counties · Superhero Surnames · Sauce
January 31
Unusual Flowers · Shadow · Coffee Brands
FFebruary 202128 boards
February 1
Dick Francis Novels · pipe · Hardware
February 2
Talk Shows, With "The" · Point of · Jodie Foster Movies
February 3
British Columbia Cities · Island Capitals · Large Lakes
February 4
NYC Mayors · Ed · East Coast US Airports
February 5
Bars · Wrenches · Short Streets
February 6
British · Famous Sallys · Former US Capitals
February 7
Balcony · What "R" Can Stand For · "Romeo and Juliet" Roles
February 8
Student Athlete Rewards · Writings · Frozen Food Brands
February 9
Glass · Monthly Bills · Car Safety Features
February 10
Famous Dolphins · George Winston Albums · Break
February 11
Noisy Animal Verbs · Horse Colors · Parts of a Tree
February 12
"The —," Reality Shows · Underlings · Clock Parts
February 13
Mystery Writers · Mister · "The Jetsons" Characters
February 14
French Mother Sauces · Eggs Benedict Ingredients · "National" Foods
February 15
People on US Currency · Davis · US States on the Pacific
February 16
Sounds Like a Pronoun · Trees · Yes!
February 17
Nut · US Senators · Apple Varieties
February 18
Ice Cream · Solids · Minor Ailments
February 19
Forestry Verbs · Famous Normans · Records
February 20
What a Car Might Call Home · Doors · Baseball Actions
February 21
Metric Prefixes · NATO Phonetic Alphabet · Medical Tests
February 22
"Parks & Rec" Characters · Alliterative Actors · Actress of the Month
February 23
Hospitality Verbs · What a Band Might Do · Split-Season Months
February 24
Pass · Game Show Hosts · Window Components
February 25
Hospital Sections · NBC Dramas · White House Parts
February 26
Female Animals · Male Animals · Little
February 27
Breads · New York Cities · Wings
February 28
Defunct US Airlines · American Universities · Omelets
MMarch 202131 boards
March 1
Tour · Jim Croce Songs · Middle East Fruits
March 2
Staple Foods · Crazy, Like Food · Fruit
March 3
Flags With Crescents · weed · Fad Dances
March 4
Sousa Marches · Major US Newspapers · American Symbols
March 5
Game Shows · Double · Kids' Party Activities
March 6
Empty · What Dieters May Measure · Middle of the Body
March 7
Best Picture Oscars · Kevin Costner Movies · Baseball Movies
March 8
Things With a Crust · Things That Get Delivered · In the Garden
March 9
Fundraising Terms · Four · Household Cleaners
March 10
They Take the Fall · Seabirds · Ruminants
March 11
Rock Groups · Music Genres · US States
March 12
Streisand Songs · Conifers · US Magazines
March 13
Cole Porter Songs · Bond Films · Living Idioms
March 14
Southern Rock Bands · They Border Tennessee · Ham
March 15
Grand · Farewells · Cereals
March 16
Teaching · Monopoly Pieces · Public Buildings
March 17
Bridges · Musical Tools · At the Playground
March 18
Chrysler Models · US Magazines · Washington, DC Sites
March 19
US Government Agencies · Texting Abbreviations · Cable Channels
March 20
Bay · Explorers · Mallet Required
March 21
California Counties · Auto Parts Stores · Famous Trios
March 22
20th Century Classical · British Boarding Schools · Jackets
March 23
guard · Famous Morrisons · Golf Course Features
March 24
General · First Amendment Rights · Where to Buy Things
March 25
Skiing Styles · Landing · Rock Music Subgenres
March 26
Moons of Saturn · "Cheers" Cast · Music Services
March 27
Agatha Christie Novels · Theater Parts · Appetizers
March 28
Skincare Terms · Steak Cuts · Casual Wear
March 29
Baseball Positions · Roman Numerals · Essential Vitamins
March 30
Anagrams of Spacer · Wyoming Cities · NBA Teams
March 31
Bowling Terms · Complain, Like an Animal · Meats
AApril 202130 boards
April 1
Famous Australians · Accounting Terms · Palindromic Family
April 2
Mountain Ranges · Sharks · They Wear Masks
April 3
US Cities, French Names · Northern NFL Teams · Two-Word US Cities
April 4
Screenwriters · Middle · "Leave It to Beaver"
April 5
Operatic Sopranos · Three-Letter Rock Bands · book
April 6
Units of Dry Measure · Kisses · Trousers
April 7
American Painters · Major Banks · Heating Fuels
April 8
European Desserts · They Come From Trees · Sewing Needs
April 9
Angles · Polar · Make a Cake
April 10
up · Schoolyard Ball Games · Powders
April 11
bed · Gears in a Car · Units of Time
April 12
City, US State Capitals · Jackets · TV Hosts
April 13
Justin Bieber Songs · Terms of Endearment · Jeans
April 14
Acronyms · Girls & Trees · Cooking Oils
April 15
Appalachian Trail States · Four-Syllable US Rivers · Southern US States
April 16
Rolling Stones Albums · Carrier · They May Be Delivered
April 17
Basketball Terms · Work Benefits · Your Hands
April 18
Double-Vowel Animals · Indian Animals · Animals Only in Australia
April 19
One Easily Deceived · Birds · Fruit
April 20
Cartoon Birds · Harper Lee Characters · grass
April 21
Galaxies · They're Surnamed James · Things That Spin
April 22
Tools for Wood · Unilever Brands · Upbeat
April 23
Famous Castaways · "Penguins of Madagascar" · US Navy Ranks
April 24
Chess Tactics · Edge of Clothing · Social Media Actions
April 25
NBA MVP Winners · Perfect · Water Bodies
April 26
Famous Squares · Pitch · Basic Math Terms
April 27
Cartoon Dogs · Parts of a Railroad Track · Smart Nicknames
April 28
Olives · Statement · Written Work
April 29
Missing Military Titles · Card Games · Restaurant Chains
April 30
Cold · Historical Musicals · Razor Names
MMay 202131 boards
May 1
Chord · UK Prime Ministers · Basketball MVPs
May 2
Famous Mikes · Go South, Not Literally · Shoe Parts
May 3
Italian Cities, in Italian · Belgian Cities · Pepperidge Farm Cookies
May 4
London Theatres · TV Horses · Precious Metals
May 5
Western US Airlines · Pacific Islanders · Coastal US States
May 6
TV Shows With Puppets · Bed · Bird Parts
May 7
Soccer Moves · headed · Not Warm Enough
May 8
Old Spice Scents · Former Place Names · Animal Plants
May 9
"Mary Tyler Moore" Actors · AAA · Google Apps
May 10
Jack · Plumbing Fittings · College Bowl Games
May 11
AL Cy Young Winners · Hollow Things · Groups of Five
May 12
Elements, Briefly · Root Vegetables · "Gilligan" Castaways
May 13
Sewing Machine Brands · Entertainers · Family Members
May 14
Blue · Late Night TV Hosts · Hospital Attire
May 15
log · Get Rid Of · Fish
May 16
Things With Caps · Things That Get Refilled · Postpone
May 17
Rabbit · Fabrics · Country Singers
May 18
European Mountains · Disneyland Attractions · Wonderland Events
May 19
US West Coast Sports Teams · Natural Disasters · Cellphone Accessories
May 20
"Family Feud" Hosts · Missouri Cities · Outdoor Wear Brands
May 21
Katharine Hepburn Movies · Flowers · Past Tense Verbs
May 22
Pianos · Money Slang · Upstanding
May 23
Orville · Outboard Motor Makers · Guitar Manufacturers
May 24
Music Terms · Off · Discount Retailers
May 25
Colors, in French · "Peanuts" Characters · Cosmetics
May 26
pin · Female Farm Animals · Disseminate
May 27
UK Magazines · Adele's "25" Songs · British Rivers
May 28
Heat · Stations · Shining Brightly
May 29
Proverbially Busy Things · "Animal" Musicians · Aquatic Mammals
May 30
Hall · Untidy Collections · American Industrialists
May 31
Playing Card Brands · People Named Bell · sick
JJune 202130 boards
June 1
"Swiss Family Robinson" · "Inside Out" Characters · Dishwashing Liquid Brands
June 2
Power Sources · Auto Parts · Meal Courses
June 3
body · Famous Penelopes · Letter Homophones
June 4
Midnight · Arizona Pro Athletes · A Very Small Helping
June 5
Home Economics Skills · Soda · Bands With Food Names
June 6
Buzz · Point of View · Microsoft Products
June 7
Famous Glenns · Manhattan Buildings · sighted
June 8
Chuck · Meat Cooking Verbs · Outdoor Toys
June 9
Starburst Flavors · "Super Mario" Characters · Stone Fruits
June 10
stone · Male Birds · One-Name Singers
June 11
Golden · Animals and Verbs · Cities in New York
June 12
Slang for Money · Capital Foods · Cole Crops
June 13
ship · Bob Marley Songs · Professions and Verbs
June 14
Weather Homophones · Classic Video Games · Bookstore Sections
June 15
Collector · Things You Flip · Make Weary
June 16
Food · Sports Venues · 3D Shapes
June 17
Land Near Water · Parts of a Rooster · Verbs for Hair
June 18
Computer Portmanteaus · Education Time · Modes of Communication
June 19
Famous Marcs · New York City Bridges · Beef
June 20
ACC Athletes · Oranges · Native American Tribes
June 21
"The Simpsons" Characters · Presidential Middle Names · TV Cops
June 22
Traffic · Concert Souvenirs · School Assignments
June 23
meal · "Annie" Orphans · Curtain Verbs
June 24
"— to —" Expressions · Parts of a Mountain · Best Part
June 25
Geographic Portmanteaus · Peninsulas · Asian Languages
June 26
Top Value Scrabble Tiles · Roman Numerals · Musical Notes
June 27
"The Lion King" Songs · Geometric Song Titles · Elton John Hits
June 28
Barrel · Beaches in Florida · Commodity Index Foods
June 29
Google · Auto Accessories · In the Linen Cabinet
June 30
Places to Park · Band · Dress-Up Occasions
JJuly 202131 boards
July 1
Animal Astronauts · Oscars Hosts · Radio
July 2
Movie Horses · US Discount Retailers · NBA Teams
July 3
They Might Be Powdered · They're Bought in Dozens · Winter Sports Venues
July 4
Transformers · Hit the · TV Game Shows
July 5
Restaurant Ticker Symbols · Chart · Investment Funds
July 6
William Holden Films · Tea · Panhandle States
July 7
Take · Ways to Publicize · Superpowers
July 8
People Who Spin · "Full House" Characters · Cleaning Brands
July 9
Los Angeles Neighborhoods · Bay of · Cities in Italy
July 10
Standard · Skirt Types · US News Magazines
July 11
Cabin · Ships · Pony Cars
July 12
Words of Japanese Origin · Tennessee Athletes · Sleeping
July 13
South American Capitals · Famous Stephens · Slang for Selling
July 14
Programming Languages · Dodge Models · Adele Songs
July 15
beat · Spectacle Frame Parts · Card Games
July 16
European Sauces · Veggies With Layers · Gyro Ingredients
July 17
Minor · They Have a Horn · Middle Ear Parts
July 18
Famous Peters · Birds · Display Fear
July 19
Euro · Funny Davids · Ways to Serve Veggies
July 20
pan · Trees With Cones · Steal
July 21
Civil War Generals · Jackie · Action Movie Stars
July 22
British Islands · British Writers · Sounds Like a Color
July 23
fire · Famous Michelles · Components of a Song
July 24
Mat · English Cities · Where Sports Are Played
July 25
Flight of the · Famous Bobs · Arizona Cities
July 26
Plain · Laurence Olivier Films · Make Spiffy
July 27
Ben · French Cities · "Inside Out" Voice Actors
July 28
Guitar Accessories · Bike Components · Digging Tools
July 29
21st Century Countries · Nuclear Powers · Red Sea Countries
July 30
Michael Lewis Books · Aboriginal Words · Sandra Bullock Films
July 31
A Seat for More Than One · Cities in Iowa · Speak Indirectly
AAugust 202131 boards
August 1
Words From Latin · Bowling Terms · Fences
August 2
"Men in Black" Characters · Round Table Knights · "Great Gatsby" Characters
August 3
Fiction · They Keep You Cool · School Subjects
August 4
Hay · Blazer Features · Exhaust Conduits
August 5
Clive Cussler Novels · Salad Greens · They Are Launched
August 6
Copper Alloys · Potato Varieties · Noble Metals
August 7
Hungry Hungry Hippos · Meal · People Named Williams
August 8
Words From Hindi · Bracelet · Men's Formalwear
August 9
Target Sports · Clothing Alterations · Wrigley's Products
August 10
Dickens Characters · "U" Bands · Disney Characters
August 11
Party · Straight Formation · 4 Consecutive Vowels
August 12
Super Bowl MVPs · Montgomery · Brothers in Business
August 13
Things You Turn · Horse-Drawn Vehicles · In the Front Seat
August 14
Monty Python Members · Bone · Crackers
August 15
Things You Blow · Famous Pauls · Dog
August 16
Oscars' Best Song Singers · Factor · Facebook Reactions
August 17
Bird Groups · "High —," Films · Things You Pass
August 18
Planned Capitals · Capitals on the Danube · Winter Olympics Hosts
August 19
Born · "Bird Songs" · Beatles Songs
August 20
Fictional Aunts · U2 Albums · Actresses Named Jones
August 21
Bean · Fishing Needs · Kitchen Fixtures
August 22
WNBA Teams · British Rock Singers · Sand
August 23
Famous Mels · Alberta Cities · Running Shoe Brands
August 24
Famous Harriets · Boots · Verbs for Shoes
August 25
Famous Thomases · "Calvin and Hobbes" · Tennis Terminology
August 26
Slang for Money · Playground Features · Taco Fixings
August 27
Barney · Search Engines · Wind Instruments
August 28
Band · Nature Areas · Sticky Situations
August 29
line · Birch Varieties · Famous Men Named James
August 30
Past or Present Verbs · Door Verbs · Give Permission
August 31
Fictional Private Eyes · Things You Join · Tools for the Soil
SSeptember 202130 boards
September 1
cloth · Travel by Water · Movies
September 2
Sci-Fi Films · Baseball Films · Rom-Com Films
September 3
Meat · Social Meals · Comfort Food
September 4
Parts of a Knife · Runner · Commands
September 5
Training · Measures · Car Stereo Controls
September 6
"The Simpsons" Characters · American Artists · Like an Inflamed Throat
September 7
Spice Girls Songs · Say · Off-White Colors
September 8
House · Things With Sand · Salad Dressings
September 9
Box · Landforms · Surface Cuts
September 10
Caribbean Music · Spicy Condiments · Rolled Candies
September 11
Divided Cities · Canals · Pennsylvania Cities
September 12
Things You May Stretch · "— Girl," Songs · Kids' Careers Plans
September 13
Dutch · Life Insurance Companies · Cooking Stove Parts
September 14
Opener · Cooking Verbs · Written Correspondence
September 15
"Our Town" Characters · Theater Jobs · Singer Mononyms
September 16
Women Authors · Shades of Brown · Dark
September 17
Free · Kinds of Steel · People Named Rogers
September 18
NFL Head Coaches · "The Wind in the Willows" · Sauces
September 19
"Operation" Game Pieces · Prime · Rock Hall-of-Famers
September 20
Tchaikovsky Works · Famous Romans · Shakespeare Plays
September 21
Chew · People Named Williams · Walkie-Talkie Lingo
September 22
"The Tonight Show" Hosts · Downton Abbey Staff · Alaska Cities
September 23
Bell · Aquatic Sports · Tex-Mex Fare
September 24
Mediterranean Ports · Orange · Shades of Red
September 25
Motivational Writers · Sausage Brands · Hall
September 26
Golf Lingo · Former Soft Drink Brands · Fictional Captains
September 27
Missouri Pro Athlete · Coldplay Songs · Where to Score
September 28
Musical Johns · Highest US State Capitals · Traditional Story
September 29
Chicago Mayors · "Tom Sawyer" Surnames · American Olympic Stars
September 30
Bloviation · Black Birds · Chess Pieces
OOctober 202131 boards
October 1
Snakes · Marine Invertebrates · Dairy Products
October 2
Monkey · Arachnids · Pooh Characters
October 3
Backup Bands · Spinning Motion · Appliances
October 4
Singing Bobs · Movie Dogs · Donald Duck's Relatives
October 5
Things That Are Pounded · They May Be Trimmed · Shopping
October 6
Food on a Stick · Sit Like a Bird · Freshwater Fish
October 7
Swedish Bands · Insect Products · Animal Defenses
October 8
Checkers Terms · King Of · Hardware Store Goods
October 9
They Come From Greece · Hounds · Famous British Ships
October 10
Whales · Airplane Parts · Bit of an Appetizer
October 11
Battlefield Locations · Greatest Work · PBS Shows
October 12
Business · MLB Teams, Briefly · Prepares Wool
October 13
Designers' First Names · nut · They Have Handles
October 14
Keys · cat · Single Name Movie Titles
October 15
Native American Chiefs · Washington Cities · General Motors Marques
October 16
Turtles · Music · Slang for Coffee
October 17
Colorado Mountains · New Jersey Cities · Ivy League Schools
October 18
Young Adult Novels · Spice Girls' First Names · Jane Austen Novels
October 19
Hidden Gems · Time · Cough Drop Brands
October 20
They May Be Flat · Guides · Things in a Theater
October 21
Cosmetic Brands · Jazz Standards · Arm
October 22
NCAA Tigers · Non-Presidents on US Bills · Broadway Hit Shows
October 23
Gold · Forks · Desserts
October 24
Beethoven Sonatas · Story · Crufts Dog Show Groups
October 25
berry · Acting Megans · Jump Up
October 26
Spicy Indian Dishes · Famous Stephens · Nourish
October 27
NBC News Anchors · University Figures · Famous Men Named James
October 28
Kale Varieties · California Mountains · US Art Museums
October 29
Lorde Songs · Beef Primal Cuts · MLB Teams
October 30
Victory · Fleetwood Mac Songs · Large Birds
October 31
Hand · Purse Contents · Famous Johnsons
NNovember 202130 boards
November 1
1940s Sci-Fi Writers · Mother · Cower in Fear
November 2
Famous People Named Joan · They Come in Threes · Endures
November 3
Roman · Jazz Singers · Apples
November 4
Bread · Famous Tims · Activewear Brands
November 5
It Can Be Closed · Member of a 1960s Group · Court
November 6
Canadian National Parks · Cities in the Rockies · Microcrystal Quartzes
November 7
Finches · Mushrooms · Crackers
November 8
Jellyfishes · Michelangelo Sculptures · stroke
November 9
Transcendental Authors · Famous Michaels · Chocolates Brands
November 10
Moths · Melons · Rattlesnakes
November 11
They Speak Portuguese · "Road to —" Movies · Same First & Last Letter
November 12
Minnesota Cities · Tool Brands · Great Lakes Cities
November 13
Flags With One Star · Board Games · Iced Tea Brands
November 14
Steals · Florida Sports Teams · Recyclables
November 15
Famous People Named Ira · hood · Cooking Verbs
November 16
CCR Songs · Celestial Song Titles · One Letter Last Names
November 17
Man · Ellipsoid Foods · Picnic Favorites
November 18
Varieties of Chinese · Lilies · Fictional Joneses
November 19
You May Lose Yours · Sharks · Under
November 20
Food Homophones · Actors Named John · Their Money Is the Pound
November 21
They May Be Held Up · Parts of a Castle · Maternity
November 22
Alison Krauss Songs · Heart · Basic Dog Commands
November 23
They Can Be Split · Milk · Reptiles
November 24
They Have Many Stars · Eye · "101 Dalmatians"
November 25
Spreadsheet Elements · Conflict · Family
November 26
Classic TV Cops · Famous Brians · Glassware
November 27
"European" Things · Alan Alda Movies · Meg Ryan Movies
November 28
Things You Crack · Grammatical Categories · Anxious
November 29
Fountain · Slang for Jail · Onomatopoeia
November 30
They Have Arrows · Grammy New Artist Winners · Pay
DDecember 202131 boards
December 1
Mariah Carey Hits · Literary Genres · Sweeteners
December 2
Airport Codes · TV Shows · US State Abbreviations
December 3
Beyonce Albums · Chanel Fragrances · Baking
December 4
Chicken Breeds · Straw Hats · Pool Parts
December 5
They Have a Shell · Guacamole Ingredients · Shades of Green
December 6
Email Service Providers · "Forrest Gump" Characters · Famous Watsons
December 7
Fish · Robin Williams Movies · Parts of a Toilet
December 8
Famous Hawaiians · Alliterative Bands · Boy Bands
December 9
They Have Claws · Apple · In the Cinema
December 10
In a · Singular Sports Teams · They Have Food Inside
December 11
"Shark Tank" Sharks · "American Idol" Winners · Sandwiches
December 12
Flag · Famous People Named Chris · Conifers
December 13
Famous Brandons · Jacks · Parts of a Bridal Outfit
December 14
Solitaire Types · Iron · Buick Models
December 15
They Have Pockets · In the Game Room · Parts of a Golf Course
December 16
White Grape Varieties · Colorful Girl Names · Herbs and Spices
December 17
Mass Measurements · Michigan Cities · stone
December 18
Dave Matthews Band Songs · Famous People Named Wright · walk
December 19
Original Mouseketeers · "Bob the Builder" · Famous Deans
December 20
hog · 1990s Alt-Rock Bands · Vehicles Without Wheels
December 21
The Traveling Wilburys · NASCAR Legends · Chord Types
December 22
Time · Parts of a Spacecraft · Medicine Delivery Forms
December 23
Theater · TV Detectives · Large Residences
December 24
Slang for Feelings · "In a —," Stuck · Worn Around the Neck
December 25
Famous People Named Grant · Rattlesnakes · McConaughey Movies
December 26
Golf Shots · Yankee · Comedy Types
December 27
Paints · Common Allergens · James for US President
December 28
They Have Stages · Fred MacMurray Movies · Clauses
December 29
Chair · Instrument Tools · Chicken Cuts
December 30
Parts of a Blimp · Small Boats · Travel Websites
December 31
box · Famous Elijahs · Experience Huge Growth
Using the archive
Getting Around the Red Herring Archive
01
Search by theme, not by date
If you half-remember a board, you almost certainly remember a group name rather than the day it ran. Every board in this archive lists its three themes beside the date, so scanning a month beats opening thirty pages.
02
Recurring categories repeat the theme, not the words
A theme that returns brings a different set of four words with it. The category pages show every word a theme has ever used, which tells you the kind of answer it reaches for without giving you a list to copy.
03
The notes explain the links you would otherwise argue with
Some connections only make sense with a fact attached — that Danger Mouse was a 1980s cartoon spy, for instance. Those explanations are kept with the words they belong to, exactly as published, and the daily archive holds every one.
How to play
How to Solve a Red Herring Board
The order that clears a board fastest.
STEP 01
Count to sixteen first
Three groups of four plus four red herrings. Four words are meant to be left over — expecting that stops you forcing a fourth group.
STEP 02
Lock the tightest theme
Solve the most specific group first. Each correct group removes four candidates from everything still on the board.
STEP 03
Distrust the near-miss
A word that almost fits two groups is usually a decoy, because the board is built to make the herrings look plausible.
How we check
Verified Answers, Not Guesses
How we verify every board published in 2021, listed by month with its group themes
Each board is taken from the published puzzle for its date and re-checked against the source. The routine is in our methodology and the standards in our editorial policy.
Reviewed by Priya Raghunathan, Word Games Editor at Puzzle Solved. The full checking routine is in the methodology, and the standards every page is held to are in the editorial policy.
Last checked — Aug 24, 2026Numbers
Red Herring by the numbers
365Boards in 2021
5,840Words this year
3,529Boards in total
10Years covered
Good to know
Red Herring 2021 FAQ
How many Red Herring puzzles were there in 2021?
365 boards, one for each day the game published, holding 5,840 words in total. Each is listed below by month.
Are the 2021 boards still playable in the app?
No. Red Herring removes a board once its day has passed, which is the reason this archive exists — 3,529 boards are kept here across 10 years, all reachable from the archive.
What do the group names tell me?
Each board hides three themed groups. The names listed under each date are those three themes, so you can find a puzzle you half-remember without opening every day of the month.
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