You ever have those mornings where you sit down with your coffee, open the New York Times Games app, and just feel like the universe is out to get you? That was me today. Honestly, Wordle #1672 for Friday, January 16, 2026, felt like a personal attack. I usually breeze through these in three or four tries, but today? I was sweating by guess five.
If you’re here, you probably either got stuck or you're just looking to verify that the word you guessed is actually a real word. Spoilers ahead, obviously. If you aren't ready to see the Wordle answer today, stop scrolling now.
Seriously. Last warning.
Today's Wordle Answer: RACER
The word for Wordle #1672 is RACER.
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On the surface, it looks easy. It's a common five-letter word. Most of us use it without thinking. But here is the thing: the structure is absolutely devious. It starts with an R and ends with an R. That "bookend" consonant strategy is a classic Wordle trap.
Why RACER Was Actually Hard
The average score today, according to WordleBot, was around 3.3 to 3.5. That sounds low, but for a word with such common letters, it's actually higher than you'd expect. Why? Because of the PACER and FACER problem.
If you managed to get _ACER early on, you were basically playing a game of Russian roulette with your remaining guesses. You could have easily burned through your turns guessing:
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- PACER
- FACER
- RACER
If you started with something like CRANE (which is a go-to for many), you likely saw that green C or yellow R, and your brain immediately went into "What fits?" mode. But if you don't nail that first R early, you're in trouble.
Hints for the Jan 16 Puzzle
If you haven't solved it yet and just want a nudge, here is what you're looking at:
- Double Letters: Yes, there is a repeated letter. The letter R appears twice.
- Vowels: There are two vowels—A and E.
- Meaning: A person, animal, or vehicle that competes in a contest of speed. Think Formula 1 or a Greyhound.
- Starting Letter: It begins with R.
Best Starting Words for This One
In hindsight, the "perfect" starter for today would have been something like TRACE or ORATE.
If you used ORATE, you would have immediately flagged the R, A, and E. That’s a massive head start. I’ve seen some people swear by ADIEU, but honestly, ADIEU only gives you the vowels. On a day like today, you need those consonants to narrow down the "—ACER" trap.
The Evolution of Wordle Strategy
It’s 2026, and we’re still obsessed with this game. It’s kinda wild when you think about it. Since the New York Times took over, people always complain that the words are getting "harder" or more "obscure," but RACER proves that's not always true. Sometimes the hardest words are the ones that are too simple.
The complexity isn't in the vocabulary; it's in the math. The more words that share the same ending suffix (like —ER or —ING), the higher the statistical chance of you failing. That's why I always tell people to use their second or third guess to eliminate as many unique consonants as possible, rather than trying to "solve" it immediately.
Actionable Tips for Tomorrow
If today's puzzle bruised your ego, don't worry about it. It happens to the best of us. Here is how you can prepare for January 17:
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- Switch your starter: If you’ve been using the same word for a month, your brain might be on autopilot. Try SLATE or SALET (the current MIT-backed favorite) to refresh your perspective.
- Don't fear the double letter: We often assume Wordle words have five unique letters. Today’s use of R-A-C-E-R is a reminder that the game loves to repeat common consonants.
- Use a "Burner" Word: If you have three green letters but four possible answers, don't keep guessing one by one. Use your next turn to guess a word that contains all the possible starting letters (like a word with P, F, and R). It'll cost you a turn, but it guarantees a win on the next one.
Go grab another coffee. You'll get them tomorrow.