Waking up to a broken Wordle streak is basically a minor tragedy. You're staring at those gray boxes, coffee in hand, wondering how on earth a five-letter word escaped you. It happens to the best of us. Honestly, even seasoned players who have been at this since the Josh Wardle days get tripped up by a weird vowel placement or a letter that just doesn't feel like it belongs.
If you are here, you’re likely stuck on Wordle 1,673 for Saturday, January 17, 2026. Maybe you have one guess left and your heart is actually racing. Or maybe you just want to know if today’s word is as annoying as yesterday's was. Whatever the case, let’s get into the hints, the strategy, and the actual solution.
What Most People Get Wrong About Today's Wordle Answer
People often think Wordle is getting harder. It's a common complaint on social media. But the truth is, the pool of words hasn't changed that much since the New York Times took over. What does change is our mental fatigue. Today’s puzzle is a perfect example of a word that feels "easy" once you see it, but is surprisingly difficult to find if your starting word was weak.
If you’re looking for a nudge without the full reveal, here is the vibe for today:
- The First Letter: It starts with a F.
- The Vowel Count: There are two vowels in this word.
- The "Y" Factor: Yes, there is a Y at the end.
- The Definition: It describes something intense, hot, or very passionate.
Strategy for Wordle 1,673
I started my game today with ORATE. It's a classic for a reason—it clears out those common vowels. Today, it gave me a yellow R and a yellow E. Not the best, not the worst.
From there, I moved to RESIN. This is a great second-word choice because it tests the I and some common consonants. Still, no greens. The grid was looking pretty yellow and gray, which is usually when the panic sets in.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Uncut Spirit Gem in PoE2 Changes Everything About How You Build Characters
If you are struggling with the middle of the word, think about adjectives. Many players forget that Wordle loves words that end in -Y or -ER. If you have an I, an R, and an E floating around, you might be tempted to try something like FIBER or FIXER. Those aren't bad guesses, but they won't get you the win today.
The Wordle Answer for January 17, 2026
If you’ve run out of guesses or just want to save your streak from the brink of extinction, here it is.
The Wordle answer today is FIERY.
It’s a bit of a "trick" word because of that I-E-R sequence. We’re so used to I coming after E in many English words (the old "I before E except after C" rule that we all know is riddled with exceptions anyway). In FIERY, the I and E sit right next to each other, which can be a nightmare for your brain to visualize when you're looking at a keyboard.
Why FIERY Is a Streak-Killer
Most people lose their streaks on words like this because they hunt for consonants first. They want to find the S, the T, or the L. When you realize the word is mostly vowels and semi-vowels (like that pesky Y), it’s often too late. According to WordleBot data from similar past puzzles, words containing an "IE" or "EI" combo have a significantly higher failure rate than standard consonant-heavy words.
Better Starting Words for Tomorrow
If today was a struggle, you might want to rethink your opener. While there is no "perfect" word, some definitely work harder than others.
- CRANE: Still the gold standard for many pros.
- SLATE: Great for hitting those common consonants early.
- ADIEU: Perfect if you want to eliminate vowels immediately, though it tells you very little about word structure.
- STARE: A solid balance of the most used letters in the Wordle dictionary.
Keep in mind that the NYT occasionally removes words from the original list if they are too obscure or potentially offensive. However, a word like FIERY is firmly in the "common usage" category, so it’s fair game.
To keep your streak alive for January 18, try to focus on eliminating the "big" consonants first—R, S, T, L, and N. Once those are off the board, the vowels usually fall into place much faster. If you found today's puzzle particularly tough, you aren't alone; the social media chatter suggests a lot of people were "burned" by this one.
Stick to a consistent second-word strategy. If your first word yields nothing, have a "backup" word that uses five completely different letters. This "burn" strategy is often more effective than trying to solve it in three.
Check your stats, share your grid (without the spoilers!), and get ready for the reset at midnight.