Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1674, and this Sunday challenge serves up a botanical term that could stump players unfamiliar with culinary herbs. Whether you're protecting a legendary streak or starting fresh, we've got the hints to guide you home.
The Basics (For New Players)
Wordle gives you six attempts to crack a five-letter word. After each guess, tiles change color: green means right letter, right spot; yellow signals right letter, wrong position; gray indicates the letter isn't in the word at all. One puzzle per day, shared by millions worldwide. That's the beauty of it.
Created by Josh Wardle in 2021 and now part of The New York Times Games family, Wordle has become a daily ritual for word lovers everywhere. Today's puzzle #1674 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 2 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 3 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: No
Letter Rarity: All common letters
The Elimination Game (Progressive Hints)
We've designed these hints to reveal just enough at each level. Stop when you've got it figured out.
Level 1 (The Vibe): Think of Middle Eastern cuisine and autumn foliage.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something you might find in a spice rack or growing wild.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with S, ends with C.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels sit in positions 2 and 4.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A reddish spice made from dried berries of a shrub.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: S
Last Letter: C
Vowels Present: U, A
Double Letters: NO
Rhymes With: HUMAC, DUMAC, RUMAC
Today's Wordle Answer
Final warning: The answer is directly below. Scroll only if you're ready.
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The answer to Wordle #1674 is: SUMAC
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
SUMAC noun. A shrub or small tree with compound leaves, clusters of small flowers, and red or white berries; also refers to the dried and ground berries used as a spice.
Origins: From Middle English "sumac," from Old French "sumac," from Medieval Latin "sumach," from Arabic "summāq" meaning "red."
Word Family: sumach, sumacs, sumac-like
Fun Fact: Sumac is a key ingredient in za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend, and its tart flavor comes from malic acid - the same acid found in apples.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 3 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. While all letters are common, the word itself isn't in everyday vocabulary for many players.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
SUMAC presents a classic vocabulary challenge. The letters S, U, M, A, C are all reasonably common, but the combination forms a word that's more familiar to foodies and botanists than the general population. Players who use culinary or nature-themed starting words might have an advantage. The U-A vowel combination in positions 2 and 4 creates a distinctive pattern that could help narrow down possibilities once those vowels are identified.
What This Puzzle Teaches
Today's puzzle reinforces the value of diverse vocabulary. Common starting words like "CRANE" or "SLATE" would reveal the S and A early, but might not immediately suggest SUMAC to players unfamiliar with the term. This highlights why having a rotation of starting words covering different domains (food, nature, science) can improve your Wordle game.
The U-A vowel pattern (vowels in positions 2 and 4) is relatively uncommon in five-letter words. Recognizing this pattern early can dramatically reduce the solution space. Once you identify this vowel placement, you're looking at a much smaller set of possible words, making this a valuable pattern to memorize for future puzzles.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1675 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's SUMAC catch you off guard, or did you crack it in three? Either way, every Wordle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at midnight for the next challenge.
