Honestly, Wordle has a funny way of making you feel like a genius one day and a total amateur the next. You wake up, grab your coffee, and think, "Today is the day I get it in two." Then you see those gray boxes. It’s frustrating. But look, Saturday mornings are for relaxing, not for stressing over a five-letter grid that refuses to turn green. If you're currently staring at a screen of yellow and gray for Wordle #1673 on January 17, 2026, you aren't alone.
What’s the Wordle Today? Hints to Get You Moving
Today’s word is a bit of a trickster. It’s a common word, one we use all the time in conversation, yet its spelling can be a little counterintuitive when you're under pressure. I've noticed that many players struggle when a word has a specific vowel placement that doesn't follow the "standard" patterns we've been taught since grade school.
If you want a few nudges before I spill the beans, here’s what you’re dealing with:
- The Vibe: Think of something intense. Hot. Emotional.
- The Structure: There are no repeated letters today. Every tile is unique.
- The Start: It begins with the letter F.
- The Vowels: You’ve got two vowels in here. They are nestled right in the middle, and their order is exactly what causes people to burn through their guesses.
Why This Word is Harder Than It Looks
A lot of the "expert" advice tells you to start with words like ADIEU or STARE. Those are great, but they don't always account for words that feel... descriptive. Today’s answer is an adjective. It describes a certain kind of person, a certain kind of spirit, or even just a very hot afternoon.
The real danger today is the "IE" versus "EI" trap. Our brains are hardwired to think of certain spelling rules, and Wordle loves to exploit that muscle memory. You've probably already guessed a few words that have the right letters but in the wrong spots.
Hints for the Wordle Today: The Final Clues
Still stuck? I get it. Sometimes you just need that one final "aha!" moment to save your streak.
Think about a volcano. Or think about a spicy bowl of ramen. If someone has a "spirited" personality, you might describe them with this word. It's synonymous with "burning" or "ablaze."
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If you’ve already used words like FLARE or FIGHT, you’ve probably seen some yellow tiles dancing around. Pay close attention to that R and the vowels. They are the keys to the kingdom today.
A Quick Word on Strategy
Don't panic and waste your fourth guess on a word you know isn't right just to "test" letters. That’s a rookie move. At this stage, you need to be surgical. If you have the F and the R, stop and think about the vowel combination that makes sense for an adjective.
The Wordle Answer for January 17, 2026
If you’ve reached the end of your rope and you just want to keep that streak alive without any more mental gymnastics, here it is.
The answer to Wordle #1673 is FIERY.
Yeah, it's that "IE" combo. It gets people every time because we often want to put the E before the I or forget the Y at the end. It's a "hot" word in more ways than one.
How to Handle Tomorrow’s Puzzle
If today was a struggle, don't sweat it. Most people who play Wordle daily find that adjectives ending in Y are some of the toughest to nail down because they use up that fifth slot with a letter we often ignore in our opening guesses.
To stay ahead of the game, consider switching up your starting word tomorrow. While STARE is a classic, words like ARISE or PILOT can sometimes give you a better look at where those tricky vowels are hiding.
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If you're looking for a fresh challenge after this, the NYT "Connections" puzzle for today is equally interesting—it's got a category involving "kids' games" that is surprisingly nostalgic. But for now, take the win, enjoy your Saturday, and keep that streak going.
Your Wordle Checklist for Tomorrow
- Start with a word that uses at least three vowels to narrow down the structure early.
- Avoid repeating gray letters; it sounds obvious, but in a rush, we all do it.
- If you get a yellow Y, remember it almost always belongs at the end of the word.
- Take a break if you're on guess five. Stepping away for ten minutes often lets the right word "pop" into your head.
By keeping these small adjustments in mind, you'll find that even the most deceptive five-letter words become much easier to spot before you hit that final, high-stakes guess.