So, it is Saturday, January 17, 2026, and you’re probably staring at a grid of gray squares feeling like the universe is personally out to get you. It happens. We’ve all been there—that moment where your "perfect" starting word fails, and you're left wondering if the English language even has any vowels left. If you are looking for wordle help for today, you’ve come to the right place.
Honestly, today's puzzle, number 1,673, is a bit of a spicy one. It’s not necessarily "hard" in the sense of using a word nobody has ever heard of, but the letter structure can definitely trip you up if you aren't careful with your vowels.
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Hints for the January 17 Wordle Puzzle
Before I just hand over the answer like a spoiler-heavy friend at a movie, let’s see if a few nudges can get your brain moving. Sometimes you just need a little spark to light the way.
- The Vowel Situation: Today's word features two vowels. They are not the same vowel.
- No Repeats: You don't have to worry about double letters today. Every letter in this word is unique.
- The Starting Line: The word begins with the letter F.
- The Definition: It’s an adjective. It describes something that is literally on fire, or perhaps someone with a very intense, passionate personality.
Think about it. If someone has a temper, you might describe them this way. If a sunset is particularly bright and orange, this is the word you’d use.
Why Today’s Word is Tricky
Most people find Wordle tough when the letters "cluster" in ways that aren't common in everyday text. Today’s word uses a "Y" at the end, but it isn't your typical "-ly" or "-ty" ending. It’s a bit more aggressive than that.
Kinda funny how a five-letter word can ruin a perfectly good cup of morning coffee. I’ve seen people on Reddit today complaining that they burned through four guesses just trying to figure out where the "I" goes. If you’ve played words like "FIBER" or "FIEND," you are actually closer than you think. You’ve got the opening, but the ending is where the heat is.
Strategy: What to do when you're stuck
If you are down to your last two guesses and the sweat is starting to bead on your forehead, stop guessing words that "might" be it. Use a "sacrificial" word.
Basically, pick a word that uses as many remaining unused letters as possible, even if you know it isn't the answer. This is the only way to eliminate the "trap" of similar-sounding words. If you have _ _ E R Y, and you're stuck between a few options, don't just keep plugging in consonants. Use a word that tests all those consonants at once. It’s better to lose a turn than to lose your entire streak because you were stubborn.
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The Wordle Answer for Today (January 17, 2026)
Alright, if you’re done guessing and you just want to save your streak, here it is. No judgment. We all have those days where the brain just refuses to cooperate.
The answer to today’s Wordle is: FIERY.
It’s a great word, but that "I" and "E" sitting next to each other right after the "F" can be a real pain to visualize if you didn't get them yellow early on.
Making Your Next Game Easier
Tomorrow is a new day, and your streak is (hopefully) still intact. If you want to avoid needing wordle help for today ever again, consider switching up your starting word.
While "ADIEU" is the old-school favorite for vowel hunters, many pros are moving toward "STARE" or "CRANE" because they knock out the most common consonants. The New York Times' own Wordle Bot often suggests "TRACE" as the mathematically superior opener. Personally, I like to rotate my starts just to keep things interesting, but if you’re a creature of habit, pick something with at least two vowels and three common consonants (like S, T, R, or N).
Check your stats, share your green squares with your friends, and take a deep breath. You survived another one.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Review your guess path: Look at why you missed the letters you did. Did you ignore the "Y" until the very end?
- Update your "burn" word list: If you got stuck in a consonant trap, write down a few five-letter words that use high-frequency letters like P, L, M, and B for future use.
- Check the "Hard Mode" settings: If you found today too easy, toggle Hard Mode in the settings to force yourself to use every revealed hint in your subsequent guesses. It changes the game entirely.