You're probably here because your morning coffee hasn't quite kicked in yet and that yellow square is just staring at you. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026. Another day, another grid of empty boxes.
Honestly, Wordle has this weird way of feeling like a personal attack when you're on your fifth guess and still have nothing but a "gray" wasteland. Today’s puzzle, number 1672, isn’t exactly a "nightmare," but it has a specific structure that tends to trip people up if they aren’t careful with their consonants.
If you just want the answer to nyt wordle for today, keep scrolling. I've got the hints first, though, just in case you want to save a bit of your dignity.
Hints for the January 16 Wordle (Puzzle #1672)
Sometimes you don't need the whole word; you just need a nudge.
Today's word is a noun. It describes someone or something built for speed. Think about the Olympics. Or maybe the Disney movie Cars.
- The Vowel Count: There are two vowels in today’s word.
- The Double Letter Situation: This is the part that gets people. Yes, there are double letters. Or rather, a letter that repeats itself.
- The Starting Letter: It starts with the letter R.
- The Ending Letter: It also ends with the letter R.
Basically, if you’re looking for a synonym for "competitor" or "speedster," you're on the right track. It’s a very common word, but that double "R" on the edges can be a bit of a psychological trap if you've already burned through your common vowels like A and E.
Why the Wordle Answer Today Might be Tricky
The current editor, Tracy Bennett, has a knack for picking words that feel obvious only after you solve them. She’s been at the helm since 2022, and while the game hasn’t technically gotten "harder" (the word list was mostly set by creator Josh Wardle), the way we approach it has changed.
A lot of players stick to the "Adieu" or "Audio" vowel-heavy starts. That works sometimes. But when you have a word like today's, which relies on a repeating consonant, those vowel-heavy strategies can actually leave you with too many open slots and not enough information.
According to some deep-dive analytics from MIT and the NYT's own WordleBot, starting words like "CRANE" or "TRACE" are statistically superior. Why? Because they target common consonants like R, T, and C early on. If you started with "TRACE" today, you probably saw a few greens or yellows right away.
The Wordle Answer for January 16, 2026
If you’re ready to give up or just want to keep your streak alive without the stress, here it is.
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The answer to nyt wordle for today is RACER.
It’s a five-letter word with the "A" and "E" tucked in the middle, bookended by those pesky "R"s. Most people hit the "A," the "C," and the "E" fairly quickly, but if you didn't realize the "R" was at both ends, you might have spent a guess trying words like "PACED" or "FACER" (though that's a bit obscure).
How to Get Better at Wordle (Seriously)
Most people play Wordle for the "vibe" and the social media sharing, but if you’re tired of failing, there's a bit of logic you can apply.
First off, stop guessing "S" words on your second turn if the first turn gave you nothing. You need to eliminate as many unique letters as possible.
The "Hard Mode" setting in the NYT app is actually a great teacher. It forces you to use the hints you've already found. While it feels more restrictive, it prevents you from making "shot in the dark" guesses that don't actually move the needle.
Also, pay attention to the "WordleBot" analysis after your game. It’s annoying when a bot tells you that your guess was "suboptimal," but it’s actually pretty good at showing you which words you should have prioritized based on remaining possibilities.
Quick Strategy Check for Tomorrow
- Vary your vowels. Don't just hunt for the E.
- Watch for repeats. Like today's "R," letters often appear twice.
- Consonants matter. R, S, T, L, and N are your best friends for a reason.
If you’re looking for more of a challenge, the NYT "Connections" and "Strands" puzzles are also live for January 16. Strands is particularly interesting today with a theme centered around superheroes (the spangram is "BATMAN").
To stay ahead of the curve for tomorrow's puzzle, try starting with a word that uses "R" and "S" in different positions than you used today. This helps clear the board of common "plurals" or "comparatives" that the game occasionally throws your way. You should also consider checking your statistics page in the NYT Games app to see if your average "guess count" is creeping up—it’s a good way to see if your starting word is still serving you well or if it’s time to swap "ADIEU" for something like "STARE."