The New York Times puzzle Wordle presents its 1682nd puzzle to players on January 26 2026 which contains a standard five-letter word that uses common letters with a straightforward design. The grid design provides advantages to players who use intelligent methods to eliminate answers while protecting their winning streaks and playing at a relaxed pace.

How Wordle Works

Wordle gives players six attempts to guess a hidden five-letter word. The tiles change color after each guess because green shows a letter was correctly placed while yellow indicates a letter exists in the word yet needs to be repositioned and gray shows that the letter does not appear in the word. The world shares a single puzzle which all players solve every day.

Wordle started as a creation of Josh Wardle in 2021 and it became part of The New York Times Games collection which millions of people play every day.

Puzzle #1682 at a Glance

Today’s word follows a straightforward pattern:

• Vowels: 2
• Consonants: 3
• Repeated letters: None
• Letter set: All commonly used letters

Progressive Hints

If you want a nudge without spoiling the answer, work through these hints gradually:

• General feel: Something that breaks from the norm
• Word type: A noun
• Meaning: Describes a person, thing, or event that is unusual
• Structure: Begins with F, ends with K
• Vowel placement: Both vowels sit in the second and third positions

Quick Clues

• First letter: F
• Last letter: K
• Vowels included: E, A
• Double letters: None
• Rhymes with: weak, seek, peek

Today’s Wordle Answer

If you’re ready for the solution, here it is:

FREAK

What the Word Means

The term “freak” functions as a noun to describe something or someone that exhibits extraordinary unusual characteristics. The word traces back to Middle English and Old English roots associated with bravery and warriors, before evolving over centuries to its modern meaning.

Difficulty Check

Puzzle #1682 rates as relatively easy. With no repeated letters, common consonants, and a clear vowel pattern, most experienced players should land the answer in three or four guesses.

Looking Ahead

The release of Wordle #1683 will occur at midnight according to your local time zone. Your practice needs to focus on the upcoming puzzle which follows today’s solution because solving the intermediate puzzles between both points will help you understand how to solve them better.