Today's NYT Wordle lands with puzzle #1718, and this Tuesday challenge serves up a familiar fabric with a double consonant that could trap the unwary. 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 #1718 awaits.
The Letter Rundown
Today's puzzle breaks down like this:
Vowel Count: 2 vowel(s)
Consonant Count: 3 consonant(s)
Repeated Letters: Yes - the letter N appears twice
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 crisp, fresh, and traditional fabrics.
Level 2 (The Category): This word is a noun. It's something you might find in a well-made bed or a formal dining setting.
Level 3 (The Boundaries): Starts with L, ends with N.
Level 4 (The Structure): The vowels sit in positions 2 and 4.
Level 5 (The Giveaway): A natural textile known for its coolness and freshness in warm weather.
Quick-Reference Clues
First Letter: L
Last Letter: N
Vowels Present: I, E
Double Letters: YES
Rhymes With: MINNEN, SPINNEN, WINNEN
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 #1718 is: LINEN
Word DNA: Breaking Down Today's Answer
LINEN noun. A textile made from fibers of the flax plant, or items made from this fabric like sheets, tablecloths, or clothing.
Origins: From Old English "līnen" (made of flax), tracing back to Proto-Germanic *līną meaning flax.
Word Family: linens, lineny, linenfold, linenless
Fun Fact: Linen is one of the oldest textiles in human history, with evidence of its use dating back over 30,000 years.
The Streak Saver Rating
Difficulty: 2 / 5
Trap Factor: MEDIUM. The double N at the end could trick players who don't consider repeated letters in final positions.
Average Solve: 3.8 guesses (estimate based on difficulty)
LINEN earns its 2/5 rating through common letters and a familiar starting L. The trap lies in the double N at the end, players often expect repeated letters in the middle, not the tail. The I-E vowel pattern is straightforward, and all letters rank high in frequency. This puzzle rewards methodical vowel elimination but punishes assumptions about letter repetition patterns.
What This Puzzle Teaches
The double N at the end teaches players to consider repeated letters in any position, not just the middle. Many Wordle strategies focus on double letters in positions 2-3 or 3-4, but today's answer shows they can appear anywhere.
Common starting letters like L make this word accessible, but the vowel pattern (I-E) requires careful vowel elimination. Players who test multiple vowels early will have an advantage, while those who fixate on common vowel placements might waste guesses.
Tomorrow's Reset
Puzzle #1719 drops at midnight in your timezone. Did today's LINEN 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.
