Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1713, and this Thursday challenge delivers a straightforward five-letter challenge with common letters but a potentially tricky starting consonant. 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 #1713 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 medieval combat and jousting tournaments.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's a weapon used by knights.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with L, ends with E.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels are in positions 2 and 5.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A long spear used by cavalry in battle.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: L
Last Letter: E
Vowels Present: A, E
Double Letters: NO
Rhymes With: DANCE, CHANCE, GLANCE
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 #1713 is: LANCE
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
LANCE noun. A long spear used as a weapon, especially by cavalry.
Origins: Derived from Old French "lance," which came from Latin "lancea" meaning a light spear or javelin.
Word Family: lancer, lancing, lanced, lances
Fun Fact: The word appears in only 0.8% of Wordle answers, making it less common than many five-letter words but still within the standard vocabulary.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Trap Factor: LOW. All letters are common, no repeated letters, familiar pattern.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
This puzzle sits on the easier side of the spectrum. With all common letters and no tricky patterns, most players should solve it within four attempts. The starting L might throw off some who rely heavily on S, T, R, or C as opening letters, but once you have the vowel positions locked down, the solution becomes clear.
What This Puzzle Teaches
This word demonstrates the value of testing less common starting consonants - L appears in only 4.2% of Wordle answers as the first letter, reminding players to diversify their opening strategies beyond the most frequent starters.
The vowel-consonant pattern (CVCVC) is one of the most common in English five-letter words, making it easier to guess once you have vowel positions confirmed through strategic elimination.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1714 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's LANCE 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.
