Wordle #1,707: A Stinky Challenge Awaits
Ready for today’s brain teaser? Wordle #1,707 has arrived, and it’s bringing a bit of a funky vibe to our daily routine. While not the absolute hardest puzzle out there, this one has a few quirks that could trip up even seasoned players. According to the New York Times’ own WordleBot, the average solver is cracking this code in about 4.1 moves, whether they’re playing on easy or hard mode. That tells us it’s a thinker, not a gimme.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to navigate today’s challenge, from gentle nudges to a full step-by-step guide. But be warned: full spoilers for Wordle #1,707 lie ahead. If you want to solve it on your own, our progressive hints section is the perfect place to start without giving the game away. For everyone else ready for the answer, let’s dive in.
Need a Nudge? Progressive Hints for Wordle #1,707
Stuck somewhere between your second and third guess? Don’t worry. Use these hints, starting from the gentlest to the most revealing, to guide your way to victory.
Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Word Type: It can function as both a noun and a verb.
Number of Vowels: This word contains just one vowel.
General Theme: Think of sensations, specifically one related to smell.
Level 2: Intermediate Clues
Starting Letter: The word begins with the letter S.
Vowel Position: The single vowel is an A, and it’s the second letter in the word.
Specific Context: It’s often used informally to describe something that didn’t go well or has a strong, unpleasant odor.
Level 3: Advanced Insights
Letter Structure: The pattern is S T A _ K.
Related Synonyms: Reeked, smelled bad, was foul.
Common Usage: You might say a strategy “stank” or that the garbage “stank” after a week in the sun. It’s a simple past tense of a common verb.
Breaking Down the Difficulty
Why was today’s Wordle a bit of a head-scratcher? Let’s break it down visually.
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 8/10 | It uses four of the ten most common Wordle letters (S, T, A, N), which is actually very helpful. |
| Patterns | 6/10 | “ST” at the start is classic, but the “NK” ending is less frequent and can be tricky. |
| Vowels | 3/10 | Only one vowel (A) makes the solving space narrower but also more challenging to pin down initially. |
| Red Herrings | 9/10 | This is the big one. Words like STAND, STAMP, STALK, and STACK are all very plausible alternatives that can lead you astray. |
How to Solve It: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Let’s trace the optimal strategic path to today’s answer, assuming you’re playing to win in as few guesses as possible.
First Word (Recommended Start): Using a strong starter like SLATE or SPLAT is golden here. With “SPLAT,” you’d immediately get the ‘S’ and ‘T’ in yellow and the ‘A’ in green, narrowing the field to just about 21 possible solutions. That’s a powerful opening move.
Second Word (Strategic Follow-up): Now you know the pattern is _ _ A _ _, with S and T somewhere. A great second guess is STAIN. This places the ‘S’ and ‘T’ at the start (turning them green) and adds an ‘N’ in yellow. Suddenly, the answer is taking shape: S T A _ N.
The Elimination Process: This is where the trap springs. Your brain logically suggests STAND. It’s a common word that fits the perfect pattern. But today, Wordle had other plans. Guessing STAND uses a turn but reveals the crucial clue: the final letter is not ‘D’.
The “Aha!” Moment: With STAND eliminated, you scan your mental dictionary for S T A _ N words. The list is short. You might consider STAIN (already used), STALK, or STALL. But wait—your second guess, STAIN, already ruled out ‘I’ in the last position. Think about other consonants that pair with ‘N’… and that’s when the informal, punchy word STANK emerges as the only perfect fit.
Recommended Attempts: Solving this in 4 tries is an excellent score. 5 is solid, and 3 is exceptional, likely requiring a lucky second guess that avoided the STAND trap.
Specific Strategies for Today’s Puzzle
If you got stuck today, it was probably at one of these two points:
1. The Final Consonant Trap: After finding S T A _ N, don’t just jump to the most common word. Methodically test common ending pairs: ND, NK, LK, LL, MP, CK. Remember, ‘K’ is a less common finisher that often follows ‘N’.
2. Avoiding the “D” Deception: The letter ‘D’ is a very common ending. Today’s puzzle was a masterclass in why you must question your first instinct. If STAND had been the answer, it would have been solved by many in 3 tries. The presence of so many “ST A _” words was the real challenge.
3. Unique Letter Pattern: The “NK” ending is a key takeaway. It’s not ultra-rare, but it’s distinctive enough to be a valuable pattern to store in your Wordle-solving memory bank.
By The Numbers: Fun Stats on Today’s Word
How does “STANK” stack up in the grand scheme of the English language?
- Frequency: It’s an informal word, so it’s less common in formal literature but very frequent in spoken English and informal writing.
- Word List Position: It ranks well outside the top 1,000 most common words, making it a less obvious choice for Wordle, which often uses more everyday vocabulary.
- Puzzle Comparison: Compared to yesterday’s HOIST, STANK is shorter on vowels and has a more colloquial feel, increasing its difficulty slightly.
- Success Rate: We estimate a slightly lower global success rate today, perhaps around 88-90%, due to the STAND vs. STANK dilemma.
For the Trivia Lovers: More About “Stank”
Today’s answer is more interesting than it seems! Etymologically, “stank” is simply the simple past tense of the verb “to stink,” which comes from the Old English “stincan.”
Beyond describing bad smells, it has a vibrant life in slang. In hip-hop and colloquial speech, “stank” can refer to a particularly funky or impressive style (often in a positive way, like a “stank face” when hearing a great guitar solo). It’s also used in phrases like “stank attitude,” meaning a bad or unpleasant demeanor.
In some dialects, particularly in the southern United States, “stank” can also be a noun for a small pond or a dam, derived from Old French “estanc.” A word with two very different lives!
Flashback: Yesterday’s Answer (Wordle #1,706)
In case you missed it, yesterday’s solution was HOIST. While HOIST also contained four common letters, its “OIST” ending presented a different kind of challenge, with multiple words (MOIST, JOIST, FOIST) fitting the same pattern. Compared to today, HOIST was a puzzle about a cluster of common endings, while STANK was a lesson in questioning your most logical guess.
3 General Wordle Tips to Take Forward
Today’s puzzle reinforces some timeless strategies:
- Beware the Obvious Guess: When the pattern seems to lead to one very common word, pause. Wordle often chooses the *second* most common word that fits. Consider all options before committing.
- Master the “ST” Start: A huge number of Wordle answers begin with S or contain “ST.” Starters like SLATE, SPILT, or STARE are powerful because they test this high-frequency combo early.
- Think About Letter Pairings: Today highlighted the “NK” pair. Other less common but important pairs to remember include GH, PH, CK, and NG. Recognizing these can crack tough puzzles.
There you have it! Another day, another Wordle conquered. Whether you sailed through in three or sweated it out to guess six, the important thing is you gave your brain a great workout. See you tomorrow for the next puzzle!
