Wordle has this funny way of making you feel like a genius one minute and a total amateur the next. You wake up, grab your coffee, and think, "Yeah, I've got this." Then you hit guess four and realize you're staring at a grid of gray boxes with no clue what's left. Honestly, it's a mood. If you're here, you probably hit that wall today.
The wordle of the day today for Sunday, January 18, 2026, is actually a bit of a curveball. It’s one of those words that you definitely know, but it isn't exactly sitting at the front of your brain. It isn't "house" or "plant." It's specific.
Hints for the Wordle of the Day Today (January 18)
Before I just hand over the answer, maybe you want a little nudge? Some people hate spoilers. I get it. If you want to keep your streak "honest" but need a push, here’s what you’re working with for puzzle #1,674:
- Vowels: There are two of them.
- Starting Letter: It starts with a big, bold S.
- Ending Letter: It ends with C.
- No Repeats: Every letter is unique. No double letters to worry about today.
- The Theme: Think about your spice rack. Or maybe a specific type of shrub.
If you’ve spent any time in a Mediterranean kitchen, you might have just had a "lightbulb" moment. It’s a tangy, deep red powder that makes everything taste better.
What is the Wordle Answer Today?
Okay, let's just get to it. You’ve probably tried "STARE" or "SLATE" and realized you’re getting nowhere fast.
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The wordle of the day today is SUMAC.
Yes, SUMAC. S-U-M-A-C.
According to the WordleBot data coming in this morning, the average player is taking about 4.0 guesses to nail this one down. That’s actually pretty high for a Sunday! Usually, the weekend puzzles feel a bit more relaxed, but the "U" and the "C" are acting as gatekeepers. If you started with a vowel-heavy word like "ADIEU," you probably saw that "U" and "A" light up, but finding where they fit with an "S" and a "C" is a different story.
Why Today's Wordle is So Tricky
Most people struggle with words that end in "C." We’re conditioned to look for "E," "Y," or even "T" at the end of five-letter words. When you see a "C" hanging out at the end, your brain starts looking for "CH" or "CK."
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Then there’s the word itself. While SUMAC is a staple in Middle Eastern cooking and a common plant in North America, it’s not a word most of us type every day. Unless you’re a chef or a botanist, it’s a bit of a "tier two" vocabulary word.
A Quick Wordle History Lesson
It's wild to think about how far this game has come since Josh Wardle created it for his partner. Now owned by the New York Times, the game has a massive database of thousands of five-letter words. They don’t just pick them at random; they are curated. "SUMAC" fits that perfect sweet spot of being a real word that people know but don't expect.
Strategies to Protect Your Streak
If today was a close call for you, it might be time to rethink your starting word. A lot of pros are moving away from "ADIEU" because, while it clears vowels, it doesn't give you enough common consonants.
Try these instead:
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- STARE: Hits the S, T, and R—three of the most common letters.
- TRACE: Gives you that "C" which would have been huge for today's puzzle.
- SLATE: Still the reigning champ for many data nerds.
If you’re playing on Hard Mode, you’re basically forced to use the hints you get. In that case, today was likely a nightmare if you got the "S" and "A" early but couldn't find the "U" or the "C."
Actionable Tips for Tomorrow's Puzzle
Don't let SUMAC ruin your vibe. If you lost your streak today, start over tomorrow with a fresh strategy. Focus on eliminating the most common consonants (R, S, T, L, N) in your first two guesses.
If you’re still craving more puzzles, you can always jump over to Connections or Strands. They usually follow a similar "logic" to Wordle but require a bit more lateral thinking. Just remember to take a breath before you hit "enter" on that sixth guess. There's no shame in looking up a hint when you're down to the wire.