Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1693, and this Friday challenge brings a less common consonant combination that could test your vocabulary depth. 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 #1693 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: Contains less common consonant V
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 authority, order, and formal proceedings.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something used in courtrooms and auctions.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with G, ends with L.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels sit in positions 2 and 4.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A small ceremonial hammer used to command attention.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: G
Last Letter: L
Vowels Present: A, E
Double Letters: NO
Rhymes With: TRAVEL, RAVEL, NAVEL
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 #1693 is: GAVEL
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
GAVEL noun. A small mallet used by judges, auctioneers, or meeting chairs to signal for attention or mark procedural transitions.
Origins: From Middle English "gavel" meaning "rent" or "tribute," tracing back to Old English "gafol" meaning tribute, tax, or interest.
Word Family: gavels, gaveling, gaveled
Fun Fact: The word appears in only about 0.03% of Wordle answers, making today's puzzle one of the rarer solutions players will encounter.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 3 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The V is less common than most consonants, but the vowel-consonant pattern is straightforward.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
GAVEL presents moderate difficulty due to the less frequent consonant V. Players who test common consonants first might waste guesses, but those who recognize the vowel positions (A in position 2, E in position 4) can narrow it down efficiently. No double letters or unusual patterns to complicate matters.
What This Puzzle Teaches
This puzzle reinforces the value of testing less common consonants like V early when common patterns fail. If your standard opener yields no matches, expanding your consonant testing beyond the most frequent letters becomes crucial.
The vowel-consonant-vowel-consonant-consonant pattern (A-V-E-L) is a classic Wordle structure that should trigger pattern recognition. When you see vowels in positions 2 and 4 with common consonants eliminated, consider less frequent options.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1694 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's GAVEL 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.
