If you woke up today and felt like your brain was running on low power, you aren't alone. Wordle #1673 is a bit of a mean one. We’ve all been there: you have two greens, a yellow that won't sit still, and suddenly you’re on your fifth guess with a bead of sweat forming. Honestly, today’s answer—FIERY—is exactly the kind of word that breaks streaks.
It’s an adjective. It’s got a "sometimes" vowel. It’s just... weirdly spelled.
Most people don't think about the word FIERY until they're describing a spicy salsa or a particularly heated argument on Twitter. But in the world of the New York Times daily puzzle, it’s a tactical nightmare. If you used a standard starter like ADIEU or CRANE, you might have found some pieces, but putting them together is where the frustration starts.
Why Today's Wordle FIERY is a Total Trap
The spelling of FIERY is a historical mess. It’s one of those English words that doesn't follow the "standard" rules we learned in grade school. Usually, you’d expect something like "firey," right? Nope. The "e" and "i" swap places compared to the root word "fire." That tiny little flip is why so many people are staring at their screens today wondering why their fourth guess was invalid.
Let's look at the letter distribution. You have:
- F (a common enough consonant)
- I (vowel #1)
- E (vowel #2)
- R (very common)
- Y (the "is it a vowel or a consonant?" wildcard)
When you see "F" and "I" and "R" light up, your brain immediately wants to go to words like "FIRMS" or "FIRES" or "FIBER." If you guessed FIBER, you were incredibly close, but probably felt that sinking feeling when the "B" and "R" didn't turn green in the right spots.
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Hints for the January 17 Puzzle
If you haven't burned through all six guesses yet, stop. Breathe. Don't just throw "FLARE" at it because you're panicked. Here are a few ways to think about today's solution without just giving up:
- Think about heat. Not just a warm day, but intense, blazing heat.
- The "Y" factor. The word ends in Y. This is a common Wordle trope, but it still catches people off guard when the middle vowels are so crowded.
- Vowel placement. The vowels are sitting right next to each other in the second and third spots. That "IE" combination is a classic trap.
Interestingly, FIERY doesn't have any repeating letters. Often, the hardest Wordles are the ones like "MAMMA" or "EERIE" where the same letter appears three times. Today is different. It’s difficult because of the sequence, not the repetition.
The Evolution of the Wordle Meta
Since the New York Times took over Wordle from Josh Wardle, players have been convinced the game is getting harder. It really isn't. The database of words is mostly the same, but our collective "Wordle IQ" has changed. We’ve moved from "I'll just guess whatever" to using MIT-calculated starters like SALET or TRACE.
But even the best algorithm can't account for a word like FIERY if your early guesses don't eliminate the "Y" early on. According to WordleBot, the average player is taking about 4.5 to 5 guesses to solve this one. If you got it in three, you’re basically a genius—or you just got really lucky with your second word choice.
Common Missteps Today
A lot of people are trying "FIRES" or "FLIER." Both are great for hunting letters, but they lead you down a path of frustration because they use up that crucial "E" in a way that makes FIERY feel impossible.
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And let’s be real, the word looks "wrong" when you type it. That "I-E-R-Y" ending feels like it's missing a letter or has one too many. That’s the beauty (and the annoyance) of the English language. It’s a patchwork of Old English, French, and Latin influences that occasionally decides to ruin your Saturday morning streak.
How to Save Your Streak Tomorrow
If FIERY almost ended your 100-day run, it's time to rethink the strategy. Don't get married to your starting word. If your first word gives you absolutely nothing (the "Gray Wall of Death"), your second word should be an entirely different set of high-frequency letters. Think "SLOTH" or "BUMPY" if your "CRANE" or "AUDIO" failed you.
Better Starting Words for 2026
- STARE: Still a king for a reason.
- PILOT: Good for testing the "I" and "O" early.
- READY: Actually would have been a great hint for today's "Y" ending.
Whether you're playing on the NYT app, the website, or following along with the community on Reddit, the goal is the same: don't let the word beat you. Take your time. There’s no timer on Wordle. You can look at those yellow tiles for four hours if you need to.
To keep your momentum going, try these next steps:
- Analyze your "luck" vs "skill" score on WordleBot to see if your second guess was actually strategic or just a wild stab in the dark.
- Cross-reference your results with the "Connections" puzzle for today, as the NYT editors sometimes (though they deny it) have a loose thematic link between the different games.
- Practice your "Y" ending words like "CANDY," "SPOKY," or "ENTRY" so you don't get stuck on the "IE" vowel trap next time it pops up.