You’re here because that yellow block just won’t turn green, aren’t you? It happens to the best of us. Honestly, some mornings the brain just doesn't want to cooperate with five little squares.
Friday, January 23, 2026, feels like one of those days where the coffee hasn't quite kicked in yet. If you're staring at a grid of gray and yellow, don't sweat it. Wordle 1314 is a bit of a curveball. It’s not a "Xenon" or some obscure 18th-century gardening tool, but the structure is what gets people.
We’ve all been there. You have the right letters, but they’re in the wrong spots. Or worse, you’re certain it’s one word, only to realize that word has six letters. Oops.
Hints for the Wordle Answer Today Jan 23
Sometimes you don't want the answer handed to you on a silver platter. You just want a nudge. A little "hey, look over here."
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Here is the lowdown on today's puzzle without giving the whole game away:
- The Vowel Count: There are two vowels in today’s word.
- The Starting Letter: It begins with a vowel. That already narrows things down, as most English words prefer to lead with a consonant.
- Repeated Letters: Yes, there is a double letter in this one. This is usually where the win streaks go to die.
- The Definition: Think of something that is situated above something else. It can also describe a part of a house or even a specific tooth.
If you’re still scratching your head, think about "levels." If something isn't "lower," what is it?
The Strategy Behind Solving Wordle 1314
Let's talk meta for a second. Most people use "ADIEU" or "STARE" as their opener. Those are fine. Great, even. But when you have a word that starts with a vowel and includes doubles, those openers can sometimes lead you into a trap of "what's left?"
Today’s word is a classic example of why you shouldn't be afraid to burn a turn just to eliminate consonants. If you’ve got the 'U' and the 'P' but can't find the rest, don't keep guessing "UP..." words. Try a word with 'R' and 'E' just to see if they light up.
The NYT Wordle Bot—that passive-aggressive little genius—usually suggests that "CRANE" or "SLATE" are the statistically superior starters. But honestly? Sometimes a "vibes-based" guess like "AUDIO" gets you there faster on a Friday.
Why Today’s Word Trips People Up
The word is UPPER.
There. It’s out. UPPER is the Wordle answer today Jan 23.
Why is this hard? Two reasons. First, starting with 'U' is relatively rare. We are conditioned to look for 'S', 'T', or 'R' at the front of the pack. Second, the double 'P' is a sneaky move. Most players search for five unique letters in their first three guesses. When you see a green 'P' in the second slot, your brain doesn't immediately scream, "Hey, put another 'P' right next to it!"
We tend to hunt for variety. Our brains like New Information. Seeing the same letter twice feels like a waste of a slot until you realize it’s the only way the word works.
A Look Back at Recent Answers
If you’re curious how today compares to the rest of the week, here’s what we’ve been dealing with:
- Jan 22: REACH (A classic consonant-heavy start, much easier for most).
- Jan 21: ICING (Another vowel-starter, but the 'G' at the end makes it feel more "word-like" to many).
- Jan 20: AMUSE (Sensing a theme with the vowels this week?).
It seems like the New York Times editors are in a bit of a vowel-heavy mood lately. It’s a good reminder to keep "OUIJA" or "ADIEU" in your back pocket, even if the "hard mode" pros look down on them.
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Actionable Tips for Tomorrow’s Wordle
If you lost your streak today, don't throw your phone across the room. It’s just a game. But if you want to make sure you win tomorrow, keep these three things in mind.
First, if you get a yellow vowel, move it to the front. We often try to bury vowels in the middle of words (like 'A' in "STARE"), but as we saw today with UPPER, they love to lead.
Second, if you're stuck on the fourth guess, look for doubles. 'SS', 'EE', 'TT', and 'PP' are incredibly common. If you have three letters and nothing fits, try duplicating one of them.
Third, use the "burn" method. If you have _ P P E R and you aren't sure if the first letter is 'U' or 'S' (it wouldn't be 'S', but you get the point), use a word that contains both 'U' and 'S' to see which one lights up. It’s better to lose a turn and guarantee the win on guess five than to gamble and lose on guess six.
Go grab another coffee. You'll get them tomorrow.
Check your stats, share that grid of green squares (or don't, we won't tell), and remember that even the best solvers get stumped by a double letter every now and then.article