Wordle #1,707: A Stinky Challenge That Might Ruin Your Streak
Wordle #1,707 has arrived, and it’s a bit of a stinker. Literally. If you’re staring at a grid of yellow and green boxes, feeling a familiar pang of frustration, you’re not alone. Today’s puzzle presents a classic Wordle trap—a word that feels common enough but has an ending that trips up even seasoned players. We’re here to guide you through the murk with hints, a full strategy breakdown, and, of course, the answer if you’re truly stuck.
According to the New York Times’ own WordleBot, the average player needed 4.1 moves to solve today’s puzzle, a number that holds true for both easy and hard modes. That’s a clear signal that this one isn’t a gimme.
Warning: Full spoilers for Wordle #1,707 lie ahead. If you’re just looking for a nudge, stick to the hint sections. If you’re ready to throw in the towel and see the solution, scroll all the way down.
Need a Hint? We’ve Got Three Levels
Stuck but not ready to give up? Choose your level of assistance.
Level 1: Gentle Nudges
Word Type: It can be a verb or a noun.
Number of Vowels: One.
General Theme: Sensation, specifically a negative olfactory one.
Level 2: Intermediate Clues
Starting Letter: Today’s answer begins with S.
Vowel Position: The single vowel is an A, and it’s the second letter.
Specific Context: It’s a simple past tense of a more common verb describing how something smells.
Level 3: Advanced Assistance
Letter Structure: S _ A _ _
Related Synonyms: Reeked, smelled bad, was foul.
Common Use: Often used informally to describe something that failed spectacularly or smelled terrible. “That idea really ___.”
Breaking Down Today’s Difficulty
Why was Wordle #1,707 such a challenge? Let’s score its tricky factors.
| Factor | Level | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Common Letters | 8/10 | Contains S, T, A, N—four of the top ten most common letters. This is deceptive! |
| Patterns | 3/10 | The “-ANK” ending is less frequent than patterns like “-ING” or “-ATE.” |
| Vowels | 7/10 | Only one vowel (A) makes it simpler to pin down, but its central position is key. |
| Red Herrings | 9/10 | Extremely high. Words like STAND, STAMP, STALK, and STACK are massive traps. |
A Step-by-Step Solving Guide
Here’s how an optimal solve might have unfolded, using strategic guesses to narrow down the field.
First Word (ORATE): A strong opener like ORATE would give you a yellow ‘T’ and a green ‘A’ in the second position. Immediately, you know the structure is _ A _ _ _. WordleBot says this leaves 28 possible answers.
Second Strategic Word (STAIN): Now, test common consonants around that ‘A’. Playing STAIN turns ‘S’ and ‘T’ green and reveals an ‘N’ somewhere (yellow). This is a huge leap, narrowing the options to just a handful, primarily words starting with “STA_N” or “STA__”.
The Elimination Process: With the pattern “ST A _ N _” locked in, your brain races through options: STAND, STANK, STAIN (already used), STALK. You might test STAND next, as it’s a very common word.
The “Aha!” Moment: When STAND fails, you realize the final letter isn’t a common consonant like D, L, or M. The less-common ‘K’ becomes the obvious, if frustrating, answer.
Recommended Attempts: Solving in 4 guesses today is excellent. A solve in 3 would require lucky elimination, while 5 or 6 is completely understandable given the deceptive traps.
Specific Strategies for This Puzzle
If you got stuck today, here’s what you can learn for next time.
If you were stuck on the last letter: Remember that a final ‘K’ is relatively rare in common five-letter words unless preceded by a ‘C’ (like BLOCK or TRACK). If common letters like D, L, P, or M don’t fit, ‘K’ should be on your shortlist.
Avoiding the “STA__” Trap: The “STA” opening is a minefield. When you see it, mentally run through the common endings: -CK, -ND, -LK, -MP, -NK, -LL. Don’t assume the most common one (STAND) is correct.
Today’s Unique Letter Pattern: The “NK” combination at the end is the real key. It’s not a pattern you see every day in Wordle, which is what made this puzzle memorable.
By The Numbers: Fun Stats
- Frequency in English: “Stank” is moderately common, ranking well below its base word “stink.”
- Comparison to Past Puzzles: It shares DNA with tricky past answers like KNOLL (double L ending) and TRUSS (double S ending) that use less-common letter patterns.
- Estimated Player Success Rate: Given the 4.1 average and the high trap potential, we estimate a slightly higher-than-usual failure rate today. Don’t feel bad if it got you!
For the Word Curious
Today’s answer is more interesting than it smells. Stank comes from the Middle English ‘stinken,’ which has Old English and Germanic roots related to the idea of emitting a smell, not necessarily a bad one initially. Its evolution to specifically mean a foul odor is a classic case of language pejoration.
Beyond describing odors, “stank” has rich slang usage. In hip-hop and African American Vernacular English (AAVE), “stank” can refer to a style or attitude that is aggressively confident or impressive. It also famously appears in the phrase “stank face”—that involuntary grimace one makes when hearing an incredibly funky bassline or tasting something intensely sour.
Flashback: Yesterday’s Answer (Wordle #1,706)
Yesterday’s word was HOIST. While not an everyday word, it was more straightforward than today’s puzzle, containing four very common letters. The main challenge was the “OIST” ending, which could also lead to MOIST, FOIST, or JOIST. Compared to the deceptive “STANK,” HOIST was a gentler lift. You can read our full breakdown of yesterday’s puzzle here.
5 General Wordle Tips to Keep Your Streak Alive
- Vary Your Second Guess: Don’t just chase yellows. Use your second guess to test new, high-frequency consonants (L, N, S, R, C) that weren’t in your starter.
- Beware the Common Trap: Just because a word fits the pattern and is very common (like STAND) doesn’t mean it’s right. Wordle loves a good curveball.
- Mind the Q, Z, X, J, K: These are your rare letters. If you’re stuck on the last slot and common letters aren’t working, one of these might be the culprit.
- Use Hard Mode to Your Advantage: If you play on Hard Mode (which forces you to use confirmed letters), it can actually help you think more strategically and avoid random guessing.
See you tomorrow for the next puzzle, and may your guesses be ever fragrant!
