How to solve today’s Wordle.
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Lazy Sunday is upon us, but never too lazy for Wordle-solving. Never all that lazy at all, though I like to imagine it will be. Tonight is the premiere of the new Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. I’m pretty stoked about this one. You can see more TV and movie recommendations in my weekend streaming guide.
Alright, let’s solve this Wordle!
Looking for Saturday’s Wordle? Check out our guide right here.
Today’s Bonus Wordle
Now that we can create our own custom Wordles, I’m including a bonus Wordle with each daily Wordle guide. These can be 4 to 7 letters long. Hopefully this is a fun extra challenge. Click the link below to play the Wordle I hand-crafted for you.
Today’s Bonus Custom Wordle is 6 letters long.
Play Puzzles & Games on Forbes
The hint: A narrow valley watercourse (so a canyon again!)
The clue: This Wordle is an Indian term.
Yesterday’s Custom Wordle Answer: ARROYO
How To Solve Today’s Wordle
How To Play Wordle
Wordle game website displayed on a phone screen is seen in this illustration photo taken in Poland on August 6, 2024. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Wordle is a daily word puzzle game where your goal is to guess a hidden five-letter word in six tries or fewer. After each guess, the game gives feedback to help you get closer to the answer:
- Green: The letter is in the word and in the correct spot.
- Yellow: The letter is in the word, but in the wrong spot.
- Gray: The letter is not in the word at all.
Use these clues to narrow down your guesses. Every day brings a new word, and everyone around the world is trying to solve the same puzzle. Some Wordlers also play Competitive Wordle against friends, family, the Wordle Bot or even against me, your humble narrator. See rules for Competitive Wordle toward the end of this post.
Today’s Wordle Hints And Answer
- Wordle Bot’s Starting Word: SLATE
- My Starting Word Today: PRONE (399 words left)
- The Hint: A Middle Eastern spice.
- The Clue: This Wordle begins and ends with consonants.
Okay, spoilers below! The answer is coming!
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The Answer:
Today’s Wordle
Screenshot: Erik Kain
Wordle Bot Analysis
Every day I check Wordle Bot to help analyze my guessing game. You can check your Wordle score with Wordle Bot right here.
Sheesh, what a difficult Wordle this was! PRONE was a bad start, unfortunately, leaving me with a whopping 399 words. CLAIM cut that down to four (though I only came up with three) and I picked MATCH for my third guess. This left me with just one possible solution, but it took me ages to figure out what that might be. SUMAC? I guess for culinary wizards and experts on Middle Eastern cuisine, this might not be so bad. For everyone else . . . ouch.
Competitive Wordle Score
Today’s Wordle Bot
Screenshot: Erik Kain
I’m not mad that the Wordle Bot got this one in three. Just disappointed. I get 0 points for guessing in four and -1 for losing to the Bot. The Bot gets 1 point for guessing in three and another for beating me. Our January totals are still super wide, but the Bot gets a much-needed win in its desperate bid to close the gap.
Erik: 16 points
Wordle Bot: 2 points
How To Play Competitive Wordle
- Guessing in 1 is worth 3 points; guessing in 2 is worth 2 points; guessing in 3 is worth 1 point; guessing in 4 is worth 0 points; guessing in 5 is -1 points; guessing in 6 is -2 points and missing the Wordle is -3 points.
- If you beat your opponent you get 1 point. If you tie, you get 0 points. And if you lose to your opponent, you get -1 point. Add it up to get your score. Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.
- Fridays are 2XP, meaning you double your points—positive or negative.
- You can keep a running tally or just play day-by-day. Enjoy!
Today’s Wordle Etymology
Sumac comes from Middle English sumac, via Old French, from Arabic summāq (or summāqah), referring to the red berries of the plant. The Arabic term likely comes from a root meaning “red,” reflecting the plant’s distinctive color.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2026/01/17/nyt-wordle-sunday/
