Wordle #1,707: A Puzzle That Stinks (In the Best Way)
Wordle #1,707 has arrived, and it’s a bit of a stinker. Not in a bad way, mind you—it’s a perfectly valid and common word—but it’s the kind of puzzle that can leave you scratching your head if you’re not careful. According to the New York Times’ own WordleBot, the average player is taking about 4.1 moves to crack this one, whether they’re playing on easy or hard mode. That tells you it’s got a little bite to it.
Ready for some help? We’ve got hints, strategies, and a full walkthrough below. But be warned: full spoilers for Wordle #1,707 lie ahead. Only read on if you’re ready to solve the puzzle or discover the answer.
Need a Nudge? Here Are Your Wordle Hints
Stuck somewhere between your second and third guess? Use these progressive clues to steer you in the right direction without giving it all away.
Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Word Type: It can be a verb or a noun.
Number of Vowels: Just one.
General Theme: It’s related to a sensory experience, and not always a pleasant one.
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.
Context: Think of a past-tense action that often precedes someone saying “What is that smell?”
Level 3: Advanced Hints
Letter Structure: The pattern is S _ A _ _.
Synonyms: Reeked, smelled bad, emitted an odor.
Common Use: You might say the garbage blank after sitting in the sun all day.
Difficulty Breakdown: Why Today’s Wordle Is Tricky
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 8/10 | It contains four of the ten most common Wordle letters (S, T, A, N), which is actually helpful. |
| Patterns | 6/10 | The “ST” start is common, but the “NK” ending is less frequent and can be a trap. |
| Vowels | 3/10 | Only one vowel makes it harder to pin down the word’s structure early on. |
| Red Herrings | 9/10 | Extremely high. Words like STAND, STAMP, STALK, and STACK are all likely wrong guesses that fit common patterns. |
How to Solve It: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Let’s break down how a strategic player might have conquered today’s puzzle in four moves.
First Guess (ORATE): A classic opener. It gives us a yellow ‘T’ and a green ‘A’ in the third position. This is a great start, immediately telling us the word contains a ‘T’ and has the structure _ _ A _ _. WordleBot says this leaves 28 possible solutions.
Second Guess (STAIN): Time to test common consonants. Playing STAIN is brilliant here. It turns the ‘S’ and ‘T’ green and reveals an ‘N’ in yellow. Our board now shows S T A _ _, with an ‘N’ somewhere else. WordleBot narrows it down to just two possibilities at this point.
The Elimination: The two obvious words left are STAND and STANK. Both fit the revealed pattern perfectly. This is the crucial moment.
The “Aha!” Moment: If you guess STAND first and it fails, the answer becomes clear. The past-tense verb STANK is the only logical option left. It’s a classic Wordle trap—picking the more common noun (STAND) over the less common verb form.
Recommended Attempts: A solve in 3-4 guesses is excellent today. If you got it in 5 or 6, don’t sweat it; the red herrings were particularly strong.
Specific Strategies for This Puzzle
If you got stuck today, here’s what you can learn for next time:
- If you were stuck with S T A _ _: Remember that “D” and “K” are common ending letters after ‘N’. Systematically testing less common endings (like K, M, P) can save you a guess.
- Avoiding the “STAND” Trap: When you have a fixed start like “STA,” consider verb forms (STANK, STALL) as actively as noun forms (STAND, STAMP). Mixing up parts of speech is key.
- Today’s Unique Pattern: The “ANK” letter combination isn’t super common in Wordle answers. Once you had the ‘A’ and suspected an ‘N’, thinking of words that rhyme with “bank” or “tank” could have led you straight to the answer.
By The Numbers: Fun Wordle Stats
How does today’s answer stack up?
- Frequency in English: “Stank” is a moderately common word, but its noun cousin “stink” is used more often.
- Wordle Commonality: It’s the first time “stank” has been the answer, but words ending in “K” appear in less than 4% of all puzzles.
- Comparison: It’s more difficult than yesterday’s HOIST, which had more vowel clues, but easier than true curveballs with double letters or obscure vocabulary.
- Success Rate: We estimate a high solve rate (likely over 96%), but a lower rate of players getting it in 3 guesses due to the STAND/STANK fork in the road.
For the Truly Curious
The word “stank” has a wonderfully direct origin. It comes from the Old English word stincan, which simply meant “to smell.” Over time, it specialized to mean “to smell bad.” Interestingly, it’s a strong verb, meaning its past tense changes internally (stink -> stank) rather than just adding “-ed.” In some dialects, particularly in the southern U.S., “stank” can also be used as a noun with a more specific, often grimly humorous connotation (“He’s got a case of the stank”).
Yesterday’s Answer: A Quick Recap
In case you’re catching up, the answer for Wordle #1,706 was HOIST. It was a more straightforward puzzle, with common letters and a clear path after the first guess. Compared to today’s STANK, HOIST was a gentler challenge with fewer deceptive alternatives crowding the solution space.
3 General Wordle Tips to Take Forward
Learning from today’s puzzle can make you a better player tomorrow.
- Beware the Common Noun Trap: When your guesses are narrowing down, actively consider verb forms (like STANK, SHOOK, DROVE) alongside the more obvious nouns. Wordle loves to use both.
- Test the Weird Endings: Don’t just default to “S,” “D,” or “Y” as your final letter. Use a guess to check less common endings like “K,” “X,” or “P” if you’re stuck.
- Use Your Yellow Letters Efficiently: Like with the ‘N’ in STAIN today, try to place yellow letters in multiple new positions in your next guess to quickly determine their correct spot.
Happy solving, and we’ll see you tomorrow for the next Wordle challenge!
