Wordle #1,707: A Puzzle That Might Leave a Bad Smell
Wordle #1,707 has arrived, and it’s a bit of a stinker. No, really. If you’re finding today’s five-letter challenge particularly pungent, you’re not alone. The puzzle presents a classic case of a common-sounding word with an uncommon ending, a combination that can trip up even seasoned players. According to the New York Times’ own WordleBot, the average solver is taking about 4.1 guesses to crack this one, whether they’re playing on easy or hard mode. That’s a solid indicator that we’re dealing with a puzzle that requires some strategic sniffing around.
Before we dive into the hints and the full breakdown, a fair warning: spoilers are ahead. If you’re still mentally arranging letters and want to solve it on your own, now is the time to turn back. For everyone ready for some help—or just the answer—read on.
Need a Nudge? Progressive Hints for Wordle #1,707
Stuck but don’t want the full answer just yet? Use these hints, progressing from gentle to more revealing.
Hint Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Word Type: It can be a verb or a noun.
Number of Vowels: This word contains just one vowel.
General Theme: It’s often associated with a strong, unpleasant sensation.
Hint Level 2: Getting Warmer
Starting Letter: The word begins with the letter S.
Vowel Position: The single vowel is an A, and it’s the third letter.
Context: Think of a past tense description for something that didn’t smell good.
Hint Level 3: Almost There
Letter Structure: The pattern is S _ A _ _.
Related Synonyms: Reeked, smelled foul, was malodorous.
Common Use: Often used informally to describe failure or something of poor quality, e.g., “That idea stank.”
Today’s Difficulty Analysis
Why was this Wordle tricky? Let’s break it down visually.
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 8/10 | Contains S, T, A, N, K—four of the ten most common Wordle letters. |
| Patterns | 3/10 | The “-ANK” ending is less frequent than patterns like “-OUND” or “-IGHT”. |
| Vowels | 6/10 | Only one vowel (A) makes it simpler, but its position is key. |
| Red Herrings | 9/10 | Many similar words like STAND, STAMP, or STACK can lead you astray. |
A Step-by-Step Solving Guide
Here’s how a strategic approach could have unfolded for today’s puzzle.
First Word (Recommended): Starting with a strong opener like SLATE is perfect. It would have given you a green ‘S’ and an ‘A’, with the ‘T’ likely appearing yellow. WordleBot confirms this leaves only 15 possible answers.
Second Word (Strategic Follow-up): Now, lock in the ‘S’ and test common consonants. A word like SHINS or SPINS could help. If you played STAIN (as our solver did), you’d turn the ‘S’, ‘T’, and ‘A’ green and get an ‘N’ in yellow—a phenomenal result narrowing it down to just a couple of options.
The Elimination Process: With the pattern S T A _ _, your brain races through options: STACK, STAND, STALK, STAMP, STANK. The ‘K’ is the wildcard here, as it’s not a common ending without a ‘C’.
The “Aha!” Moment: You might try STAND first (it’s a very common word). When that fails, the realization hits: the past tense of “stink” fits perfectly. STANK clicks into place.
Recommended Attempts: Solving this in 4 guesses is excellent. Getting it in 3 would be very impressive, while 5 or 6 is completely understandable given the tricky ending.
Specific Strategies for This Puzzle
If you got stuck today, here’s what might have happened and how to avoid it next time.
If You Were Stuck at S T A _ _: The trap is fixating on a D (STAND) or a C/K combo (STACK). Remember to verbally test the word. “It stand?” No. “It stank?” Yes! Saying it aloud can trigger the right connection.
Avoiding the ‘K’ Trap: Words ending in a standalone ‘K’ are less common than you think. Before placing it, consider if a CK, NK, or LK combination is more likely. Today, the ‘NK’ combo was the key.
Today’s Unique Letter Pattern: The sequence “ST” at the start is very common, but following it with an “A” and then an “NK” is a specific, less-common phonetic bundle. Recognizing these bundles (like -ANK, -INK, -UNK) is a advanced Wordle skill.
Interesting Word Stats
How does today’s answer stack up in the grand scheme of words?
- Frequency in English: “Stank” is relatively uncommon in formal writing but sees regular use in informal speech and narrative.
- Common Word List Position: It ranks far outside the top 1,000 most common English words, making it a less obvious guess.
- Comparison to Past Puzzles: This is harder than recent answers like HOIST or PLANT, primarily due to its atypical ending.
- Estimated Player Success Rate: Given the 4.1 average, we estimate a high solve rate (likely over 90%), but a lower rate of players achieving it in 3 guesses or fewer.
For the Curious Minds
Let’s dig a little deeper into the word STANK itself.
Etymology: It comes from the Old English *stincan*, meaning “to emit a smell,” which could be good or bad. The past tense “stank” (and “stunk”) evolved from this root, related to similar words in German (*stinken*) and Dutch (*stinken*).
Interesting Uses: Beyond smell, “stank” can refer to a pond or a small dam in Scottish dialect. In modern slang, “stank face” is the grimace you make when something smells bad or is disgustingly impressive.
Cultural Reference: It’s immortalized in the classic playground retort: “I’m not talking to you, I’m talking to the wall. I’d get more sense out of the wall, and it wouldn’t stank!”
In Other Languages: The concept is universal. In Spanish, *apestaba*; in French, *puait*; in German, *stank*. The German is practically identical!
Yesterday’s Answer (Wordle #1,706)
If you’re just catching up, yesterday’s answer was HOIST. It was a more straightforward puzzle, with common letters and a recognizable pattern. Compared to today’s STANK, HOIST was a walk in the park—fewer deceptive alternatives and a more familiar word structure. It served as a calm before today’s slightly stormier lexical challenge.
General Wordle Strategy Tips
Whether today stank or you soared, these tips will help you tomorrow.
- Vary Your Vowel Hunt: After your starter, use your second guess to test remaining common vowels (E, I, O) if they’re missing. Today, knowing the only vowel was ‘A’ early on was crucial.
- Beware the Common Trap: Just because a word fits the pattern and is very common (like STAND), doesn’t mean it’s right. Always have a backup plan for your next guess that tests alternative endings.
- Leverage Letter Frequency: The best starting words, like SLATE, CRANE, or TRACE, systematically use the most common letters. This data-driven approach consistently narrows the field fastest.
- Say It Out Loud: If you’re visually stuck, pronounce the possible combinations. Your brain’s language center might recognize the correct word through sound when the letters on screen aren’t clicking.
Remember, every puzzle is a new learning opportunity. Even the ones that stink a little. See you tomorrow for Wordle #1,708!
