Wordle Hint & Answer for January 28, 2026 (#1684)

Today's Wordle puzzle (#1684) on January 28, 2026, presents a moderate challenge with a word that's emotionally charged but not overly obscure. It's a five-letter word that might trip you up if you're not considering certain letter patterns, but it's definitely solvable with a bit of thought. Let's dive into some hints to help you crack it without giving away the answer immediately.

Hints for Wordle #1684 (January 28, 2026)

If you're feeling stuck, here are three levels of hints—from vague to very specific—to guide you toward the solution. Try to use them sparingly to keep the fun alive!

• Hint 1 (Vague): This word describes a harsh or unkind quality, often associated with actions or behavior that lack compassion.
• Hint 2 (Specific): It starts with 'C' and ends with 'L', and contains a vowel in the second position that is very common in English words.
• Hint 3 (Very Specific): The third letter is 'U', and the fourth letter is 'E'. There are no double letters in this word.

Use these clues to narrow down your guesses. If you're still struggling, scroll down for the full reveal.

The Answer to Wordle #1684

The answer for Wordle on January 28, 2026 (puzzle #1684) is CRUEL.

Yes, that's right—CRUEL is today's word. It fits the hints perfectly: starting with 'C', ending with 'L', with 'U' as the third letter and 'E' as the fourth, and conveying a sense of harshness or unkindness.

Strategy for Solving Today's Wordle

Today's puzzle, with the answer CRUEL, was moderately challenging but fair. Here's why it might have been tricky and how to approach it efficiently:

• Why It Was Tough: The word CRUEL isn't extremely rare, but it's not among the most common five-letter words either. Its emotional connotation might not be the first thing that comes to mind during a word game. Additionally, the combination of 'C' at the start and 'L' at the end isn't the most frequent pattern, which could throw off players who rely on common letter placements.
• Efficient Solving Tips:
  1. Start with a Strong Opener: Use a starting word that includes common vowels and consonants, like 'CRANE' or 'SLATE'. Today, if you used 'CRANE', you'd have gotten the 'C' and 'E' in the correct positions early on, giving you a great head start.
  2. Pay Attention to Letter Patterns: Once you had 'C' and 'E' from a guess like 'CRANE', noticing that the word ends with 'L' (from hints or elimination) should lead you to test words like 'CRUEL' or 'CREEL'. The absence of double letters here is a key clue—'CREEL' has a double 'E', so CRUEL becomes the logical choice.
  3. Consider Word Meanings: As hinted, thinking about synonyms for harsh or unkind (like 'mean', 'brutal', or cruel) can help when you're down to a few possibilities. This semantic approach is especially useful in later guesses.

Overall, CRUEL is a solid Wordle answer that tests both vocabulary and deductive reasoning. If you solved it, great job! If not, use these strategies to improve for tomorrow's puzzle. Happy Wordling!