You’re staring at that grid, aren’t you? Third guess in, a few stray yellows, and that nagging feeling that your streak is about to go up in smoke. It’s Thursday, January 15, 2026, and today's Wordle is a bit of a mean one. Honestly, the New York Times has been on a streak of its own lately, picking words that feel just slightly "off" from our everyday vocabulary.
Today's puzzle, #1671, is a classic example of a word that looks easy once you see it but feels impossible when you're staring at three gray rows. If you're here because you’re down to your last two attempts, take a breath.
The Trouble With Wordle Today
What makes a Wordle "hard"? Usually, it's one of three things: a rare letter (like X or Z), a double letter (looking at you, MAMMA), or a consonant-heavy structure. Today is definitely a case of the latter.
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According to the early data from WordleBot, players are taking an average of 4.3 guesses to solve this one. That’s significantly higher than the usual 3.8 average we see for mid-week puzzles. Most people are getting stuck because they're hunting for vowels that simply aren't there.
A Few Gentle Nudges (Hints)
If you want to solve it yourself but just need a little push, here are some clues that won't totally spoil the fun.
- The Vowel Count: There is only one vowel in today's word.
- The Starting Letter: It begins with a C.
- The Ending Letter: It ends with an M.
- The Vibe: Think of a massive, gaping hole. Not just a small crack, but a geological separation.
It’s a noun. It’s dramatic. You’ve probably seen it used metaphorically to describe a big disagreement between two people or groups.
Wordle #1671 Answer for January 15, 2026
Alright, if you’re just done with the guessing game and want to save your 200-day streak, I’ve got you. No judgment here—we’ve all had those mornings where the brain just isn't "wordling" yet.
The answer to Wordle today is: CHASM.
Why CHASM is Such a Streak-Killer
The word CHASM (pronounced kaz-um) is tricky because of that CH start followed by an S and an M. Most people gravitate toward words like CRANE, CARES, or CLOUT for their early guesses. If you used a vowel-heavy starter like ADIEU or AUDIO, you likely only saw one yellow tile (the A) and felt very lost.
The H is also a silent killer here. Since it’s tucked between the C and the A, it doesn't always jump out as an obvious choice unless you’re already thinking of words like CHART or CHAIN.
How to Play It Better Next Time
If today was a struggle, you might want to rethink your "Step 2" strategy. A lot of expert players—and the MIT researchers who studied this—suggest that if your first word fails to land many hits, your second word shouldn't try to "fix" the first. Instead, it should be a "burn" word.
A burn word is a guess designed specifically to eliminate as many common consonants as possible. Words like SLATE, TRACE, and NYMPH (if you're feeling bold) are great for this. Today, if you had used a word with an S and an M early on, you would have narrowed the field from thousands of possibilities down to just a handful.
Looking Back: Recent Wordle History
The last few days have been a weird mix. Yesterday, January 14, the answer was AVOID, which felt almost too simple after the January 13 curveball of GUMBO. Before that, we had TRIAL and QUARK.
It seems the editor is currently in a "physical world" phase, choosing words that describe tangible things or actions rather than abstract concepts.
Actionable Tips for Tomorrow
- Don't panic-guess. If you have two greens, don't just start throwing letters at the empty spots. Step away for five minutes.
- The "S" Factor. Never forget that pluralized four-letter words (like CATS) are almost never the answer in the NYT version. However, words that end in S as part of the root (like CLASS or GLASS) are fair game.
- Check the Vowels. If you’ve ruled out E, I, O, and U, the word almost certainly uses an A or a Y.
Go grab another coffee and enjoy the win. You’ve kept the streak alive for another twenty-four hours.
Stay sharp—tomorrow's word is already rumored to be a "Racer" of a puzzle. (See what I did there? Actually, forget I said that.) Just keep your starting word consistent and you'll be fine.
Log out of the game, share your green squares on social media, and get on with your Thursday. See you for the next one.