Ever wake up, fire up your phone, and stare blankly at those five empty boxes? You're not alone. We've all been there, desperately trying to remember if "STARE" was used three days ago or three months ago. Honestly, it's the little things that keep us sane, and Wordle has somehow become a global morning ritual that nobody saw coming.
Tracking a list of wordle answers by date isn't just for the completionists. It's actually a pretty solid strategy. Why? Because the New York Times almost never repeats a word. If you know "RAISE" was the answer last Tuesday, you can safely ignore it today. It's a process of elimination that turns a guessing game into something closer to logic.
People get really intense about their starting words. I've seen heated debates over "ADIEU" versus "STARE." But the real pros look at the history. They look at what's already been burnt.
Today's Wordle Answer and Recent History
If you're just here for the quick fix because your streak is on the line, I get it. No judgment. Today, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the answer for Wordle #1670 is AVOID.
Funny word, right? Sort of sums up what we're all trying to do with those gray squares.
Looking back at the last week or so, the patterns are interesting. Yesterday, January 13, was GUMBO. Before that, we had TRIAL on Monday and QUARK on Sunday. If you're keeping a running tally, here is how the last few days played out:
- January 14, 2026: AVOID
- January 13, 2026: GUMBO
- January 12, 2026: TRIAL
- January 11, 2026: QUARK
- January 10, 2026: MANIC
- January 9, 2026: EIGHT
- January 8, 2026: BLAST
You might notice something if you look closely. The NYT editors (led by Tracy Bennett) love to mix it up. You go from a relatively common verb like "BLAST" to something scientific like "QUARK" or a niche food item like "GUMBO." This variability is why the list of wordle answers by date is so crucial. It helps you recalibrate your brain for the kind of vocabulary they're currently favoring.
Why the Archive Matters for Your Strategy
You've probably heard that there are over 2,300 words in the original Wordle solution list. That sounds like a lot. But we're years into this now. We've burned through a significant chunk of the most "obvious" five-letter words.
I talked to a buddy who has played every single day since the game went viral. He swears by checking the archive once a week. He says it helps him realize which "trap" words are no longer a threat. Think about words like "STORE," "STARE," "SHARE," and "SPARE." If you know three of those have already been used, your 50/50 guess suddenly becomes a 100% lock.
The New York Times doesn't just pull these words out of a hat anymore. Back when Josh Wardle owned the game, it was a predetermined list. Now, there’s a bit more "editorial flair." They’ve even removed some words that were deemed too obscure or, frankly, offensive.
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But the core rule remains: no repeats.
Notable Past Wordle Answers from 2025
2025 was a wild year for Wordle fans. We had some real "streak killers." Remember when GUESS showed up on December 11? People lost their minds because "GUESS" is such a meta word for a guessing game.
Here are a few other standouts from late last year that you should definitely cross off your mental list:
On December 25, 2025, the word was STUDY. A bit of a buzzkill for Christmas morning, maybe? Earlier that month, on December 2, we saw CACTI, which tripped up a lot of people because of that double 'C' and the 'I' ending.
September 2025 gave us GOOEY (Sept 28) and CIVIL (Sept 29). The double letters are always the hardest. If you're looking at a list of wordle answers by date, you'll see that the NYT loves to cluster certain types of challenges. One week might be heavy on the "ER" endings, while the next is full of double vowels.
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How to Handle the "Hard Mode" Trap
If you play on Hard Mode, you know the pain. You get the 'I-G-H-T' in green, and you're stuck. Is it MIGHT? LIGHT? NIGHT? FIGHT? SIGHT? TIGHT?
This is where the historical list of wordle answers by date becomes your best friend. If you can remember that EIGHT was just used on January 9, 2026, you don't waste a turn on it.
Honestly, the NYT WordleBot often suggests that "ADIEU" isn't the best starter. It prefers words like "CRANE" or "TRACE." But if those words have already been answers? Their value as a first guess drops slightly because you're losing that tiny 1-in-2000 chance of getting a "hole-in-one."
The Science of Five Letters
The distribution of letters in the remaining Wordle pool is changing. As we check off more words, the "most common" letters shift. Experts like the ones over at WordleStats often point out that while 'E' and 'A' are still king, the frequency of certain consonants is thinning out.
I’ve noticed that "Y" as a vowel is appearing more frequently in the recent list of wordle answers by date. Words like SHYLY or MUGGY are appearing with a weird regularity. It’s almost like they want us to suffer.
Common Misconceptions About the Wordle List
A lot of people think the game will run out of words soon. It won't. With the current pace, we have enough words to last well into the late 2020s. And the NYT can always refresh the list or—dare I say it—start repeating them in five years when we've all forgotten.
Another myth? That the words are tied to the news. While it feels like TRIAL appearing on a Monday might be a nod to a big court case, the editors have stated multiple times that the words are mostly chosen far in advance. Any coincidence is usually just that—a coincidence.
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Actionable Tips for Your Next Game
Stop guessing blind. Use the data available to you.
First, keep a tab open with a reliable list of wordle answers by date. Before you commit to your fourth or fifth guess, do a quick "Command+F" (or just scroll) to see if that word has appeared in the last year. If it has, pick a different one.
Second, vary your starting word. If you've been using "STARE" for a year, it's likely already been the answer. Switch to something like "ARISE" or "PLANT" to give yourself a shot at that elusive 1/6 score.
Finally, pay attention to the "theme" of the week. If you see a few verbs in a row, the editors might be in a certain groove. It’s not a science, but it’s a vibe.
The best way to stay ahead is to treat Wordle like a data problem, not just a vocabulary test. Check your history, avoid the repeats, and keep that streak alive.
To take your game to the next level, start by analyzing your own personal stats page in the NYT app. Look at your "average guesses" and compare them to the community average for today's word, AVOID. If you're consistently above the average, it might be time to rethink your opening gambit and start incorporating more high-frequency consonants like 'R', 'T', and 'N' earlier in your play.