Wordle #1,676: A Puzzle That Could Tarnish Your Streak
Wordle #1,676 has arrived, and it’s presenting players with a uniquely challenging scenario. According to the New York Times’ own WordleBot, the average player is taking a solid 4.0 moves to crack this one, whether they’re playing on easy or hard mode. That’s a clear signal that today’s answer isn’t just handing itself over. It’s a word that feels familiar yet can easily slip through the cracks of your strategic eliminations, potentially sullying a beautiful winning streak if you’re not careful.
If you’re here looking for a lifeline, you’re in the right place. We’ve got the full breakdown below, from gentle nudges to the full solution. But consider this your official spoiler warning: we’re diving deep into today’s puzzle. If you want to solve it on your own, now’s the time to turn back!
Need a Nudge? Progressive Hints for Wordle #1,676
Stuck but not ready to give up? Work through these hints, from subtle to specific.
Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Today’s answer can function as both a verb and a noun.
It contains two vowels.
The general theme relates to damaging a reputation or making something dirty.
Level 2: Intermediate Clues
The word begins with the letter S.
One of the vowels is a U, and it is the second letter.
Think of words associated with stains, smears, or spoiling something pure.
Level 3: Advanced Insights
The letter structure is: S _ L L Y.
Synonyms include: tarnish, stain, besmirch, defile.
It’s commonly used in phrases like “to sully one’s name” or “a sullied reputation.”
Today’s Difficulty Breakdown
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 3/10 | It misses the top five most common letters (E, A, R, O, T) entirely, making initial guesses less fruitful. |
| Patterns | 6/10 | The “-LLY” ending is a known pattern, but the starting “SU-” is less frequent. |
| Vowels | 7/10 | Only two vowels, and the “U” in the second position is a specific, less common placement. |
| Tricky Traps | 8/10 | The double “L” is a major pitfall. Many similar words (SUNNY, SULKY, SUDSY) can lead you astray. |
A Step-by-Step Solving Guide
Let’s walk through a logical, Bot-inspired approach to conquering today’s Wordle.
First Word (ORATE): A classic starter that, today, yields absolutely nothing—no yellows, no greens. This is a worst-case scenario that leaves a daunting 253 possible answers. Don’t panic.
Second Word Strategy: With a blank board, you need information fast. The best moves incorporate common consonants like ‘L’, ‘S’, and ‘N’. A word like SPILT or LAPSE is excellent here, cutting possibilities down to the 20s.
The Elimination Process: Let’s say you played MUSIC next. This turns the ‘U’ green in position 2 and ‘S’ yellow. Suddenly, you’re in business. The answer is now S_U??, and you know an ‘S’ is floating somewhere else.
The “Aha!” Moment: You need to test remaining common letters. Trying a word like SULLY or SUNNY tests the double-letter and ending patterns. If SULLY turns the ‘L’s yellow and the ‘Y’ green, you’ve essentially got it.
Recommended Attempts: Solving this in 4 or 5 tries is a strong, above-average performance. If you got it in 3, you had a fantastic mix of strategy and luck.
Specific Strategies for This Puzzle
If you’re stuck with a green ‘S’ and ‘U’ at the start… immediately think about the “-LLY” and “-NNY” endings. Words like SULLY, SUNNY, and SULKY become prime suspects. The double letter is the key.
To avoid the trap of the second ‘L’… remember that a yellow ‘L’ doesn’t mean there’s only one. When you have limited vowel spots left, a double consonant becomes much more likely.
The unique letter pattern today is the “SU-” beginning followed by a double consonant. This combination is rare in the Wordle answer list, which is why it feels so tricky.
By The Numbers: Fun Stats
- Word Frequency: “Sully” is a relatively uncommon word in everyday modern English, ranking far outside the top 10,000 most used words.
- Comparison: It’s objectively harder than yesterday’s WAXEN, which also had rare letters but a more obvious “-EN” ending.
- Success Rate: The 4.0 average solve time suggests a lower first-try success rate than puzzles with more common letters. Many streaks likely ended today.
- Bot’s Best Start: According to WordleBot, starting with SLATE or SALET would have given players a significant head start today.
For the Word Curious
Ever wondered about the word “sully” itself? Its origins are a bit murky, possibly coming from the Old French word souillier, meaning “to soil or stain.” It first appeared in English in the late 1500s, carrying that sense of moral or physical staining from the very beginning.
A culturally interesting use is in the name of the famous pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, hero of the “Miracle on the Hudson.” In a delightful twist of irony, his nickname is associated with saving lives and preserving honor—the exact opposite of the word’s meaning!
Looking Back: Yesterday’s Wordle Answer (#1,675)
If you’re just catching up, yesterday’s answer was WAXEN. It was a deceptively tough one, featuring two of the rarest letters in Wordle (‘W’ and ‘X’). While today’s SULLY is tricky due to its letter pattern, WAXEN was difficult due to its sheer uncommonness. Both puzzles serve as great reminders that a robust starting word is your best defense.
Sharpen Your Skills: General Wordle Strategy Tips
Based on today’s battle, here are some evergreen tips to keep your streak alive:
- Always Hunt the Double Letters: When the board gets tight and you have few vowels left, assume a double consonant (especially L, S, N, T) is in play. It’s a classic Wordle trick.
- Don’t Fear a Zero-First Guess: Like ORATE today, a starter that gives you nothing is not a disaster. It’s valuable information that eliminates a huge chunk of the alphabet. Your second guess should then aggressively test new, common letters.
- Master the Common Endings: “-ING”, “-LY”, “-ED”, “-ER”, and “-TY” are all extremely common. If you have a green letter in the third or fourth spot, try plugging one of these endings in.
- Use Your Yellow Letters Wisely: A yellow ‘S’ or ‘L’ is a prime candidate for being part of a common letter pair like “SH”, “ST”, or “LL”. Move it around to test these patterns.
