At a Glance
- Wordle delivers a daily five-letter puzzle that challenges word-lovers worldwide.
- Today’s answer is CUBIC, a word that repeats a letter and ends with the same letter it begins.
- The answer ties into a common shape- a cube- making it a memorable word for players.
Why it matters: Knowing the answer and the clues helps players sharpen pattern-recognition skills and enjoy a quick daily mental workout.
Wordle is a popular online word game that presents players with a single five-letter word to guess in six attempts. Each guess receives feedback: green for a correct letter in the right position, yellow for a correct letter in the wrong position, and gray for a letter that isn’t in the word at all. Players can use this feedback to narrow down possibilities and solve the puzzle before the sixth try. The game’s simple interface and addictive repetition have made it a cultural touchstone, with millions of users logging in each day.
How Wordle Works
The core of Wordle is its algorithm that selects a new five-letter word each day. The word is chosen from a curated list of valid solutions, ensuring that each puzzle is solvable within the six-guess limit. Players start with an initial guess and receive color-coded feedback. By analyzing which letters appear and where they appear, players can eliminate incorrect options and refine subsequent guesses. The game’s design rewards strategic thinking: using common letters early can reveal patterns, while avoiding letters that have already been ruled out speeds progress.
The feedback system is a key learning tool. Green squares confirm a letter’s placement; yellow squares indicate a letter is present but misplaced; gray squares signal absence. Because the same letter can appear multiple times, the system provides nuanced clues that guide players toward the correct arrangement. This combination of logic and probability makes Wordle both challenging and accessible.
Players benefit from this system by building a mental map of letter positions, which can be applied to future puzzles. The color-coded clues reduce guesswork and encourage efficient use of each attempt.
The algorithm also ensures fairness by rotating words daily, preventing players from memorizing answers. This rotation keeps the game fresh and maintains the community’s shared experience of discovering new words.
Today’s Puzzle
- Repeats: The word contains a repeated letter, a fact that can be deduced from the feedback after a couple of guesses.
- Vowels: It has two vowels, which narrows the vowel options early on.
- First letter: The word starts with C.
- Last letter: The word ends with C.
- Meaning: The word describes a shape that resembles a cube.
Recent Answers
Below is a snapshot of recent Wordle answers, showing the day, puzzle number, and solution. The list demonstrates the variety of words used and the occasional repetition of letters or themes.
| Date | Puzzle # | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16 | 1672 | RACER |
| Jan. 17 | 1673 | FIERY |
| Jan. 18 | 1674 | SUMAC |
| Jan. 19 | 1675 | WAXEN |
| Jan. 20 | 1676 | SULLY |
Quick Tips
- Choose a strong starter word. Words that use common letters-such as TRAIN, STERN, or AUDIO-provide a broad base of information.
- Avoid over-guessing. Use each guess to move forward; don’t waste attempts on similar words that don’t reveal new letters.
- Track letter placement. Keep a mental or physical record of which letters are confirmed, which are present but misplaced, and which are ruled out.
- Leverage repeated letters. If a letter appears twice, make sure you test its placement in both potential spots.
- Use the feedback hierarchy. Prioritize green letters first, then yellow, then gray, to build a solid foundation for the next guess.
Why Wordle Matters
Beyond being a casual pastime, Wordle offers cognitive benefits. It encourages pattern recognition, vocabulary expansion, and strategic planning. The game’s social element-sharing results on social media-also fosters community engagement. As a free, browser-based experience, it remains accessible to a wide audience, reinforcing its status as a modern digital pastime.
Key Takeaways
- The daily answer is CUBIC, a word that repeats a letter and ends with the same letter it begins.
- Wordle’s feedback system guides players through logical deduction.
- Recent answers show a mix of common and uncommon words, keeping the game fresh.
- Quick starter words and mindful guessing improve success rates.
