Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1702, and this Sunday challenge brings a tricky combination with an uncommon K and double L that could trip up even seasoned players. 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 #1702 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 1 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 4 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: Yes - the letter L appears twice
Letter Rarity: Contains uncommon letter K
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 anatomy and protection.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's part of the human body's skeletal structure.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with S, ends with L.
Level 4 (The Structure): Contains a double consonant (LL) at the end.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): The bony structure that protects the brain.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: S
Last Letter: L
Vowels Present: U
Double Letters: YES
Rhymes With: DULL, NULL, HULL
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 #1702 is: SKULL
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
SKULL noun. The bony framework of the head that encloses and protects the brain.
Origins: Derived from Middle English "skulle," which came from Old Norse "skalli" meaning bald head or skull.
Word Family: skulls, skulled, skull-like, skullcap
Fun Fact: The word appears in only about 0.03% of Wordle answers, making it one of the rarer solutions players will encounter.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 3 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The uncommon K and double L at the end create a deceptive pattern that can trap players who focus too much on common letter combinations.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
This puzzle earns its medium difficulty rating through a combination of factors. The letter K appears in only about 5% of Wordle answers, making it less likely to be tested early. The double L at the end creates a common Wordle trap pattern that requires careful vowel positioning. However, the starting S is common, and the single vowel U in the middle provides a clear anchor point for strategic players.
What This Puzzle Teaches
This puzzle reinforces the strategic value of testing uncommon consonants like K early in your solving process. When common vowels and consonants yield limited information, moving to less frequent letters can provide crucial breakthroughs.
The double L pattern at the end demonstrates the importance of considering repeated letters in Wordle strategy. Many players overlook the possibility of duplicate letters, especially when they appear consecutively or at word boundaries.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1703 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's SKULL 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.
