Feeling stuck on today's Wordle? Don't worry, you're not alone! Sometimes those five-letter puzzles can be real brain-teasers. But fear not, we're here to give you a nudge in the right direction. Let's dive into some hints and the solution for Wordle #1672, January 16th.
Before we get to the juicy stuff, let me introduce the expert behind this Wordle wisdom: Gael Fashingbauer Cooper. Gael is a CNET editor, journalist, and self-proclaimed pop-culture junkie. She's even co-authored books like "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," and "The Totally Sweet '90s." With a journalism career dating back to 1989, including stints at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital, she's definitely seen it all. And yes, she proudly identifies as Gen X – word and deed! If Marathon candy bars ever make a comeback, you know where to find her.
Gael's expertise spans a broad range of topics, from breaking news and entertainment to lifestyle, travel, food, shopping, deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, and even generational studies. Her credentials include co-authoring those aforementioned pop-culture encyclopedias for Penguin Books and winning the "Headline Writer of the Year" award three times from the American Copy Editors Society (2017, 2014, and 2013). She also snagged first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism.
Okay, enough about the expert (though, knowing the source adds credibility, right?). Let's get back to Wordle! If you're also tackling other daily puzzles, CNET offers hints and answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands puzzles too, so check those out if you play them!
Today's Wordle is, admittedly, a bit tricky. But the good news is that the letters themselves are fairly common. If you're struggling to even get started, consider revisiting a list of the most frequently used letters in the English language. A good starting word can make all the difference! But if you're ready for some more specific hints, keep reading.
Speaking of tough Wordles, did you know that a recent study revealed Wordle's top 10 toughest words of 2025? It's interesting to see which words trip people up the most. You can find the article on CNET.
Alright, time for those hints! Remember, if you want to preserve the challenge, look away now! These hints are designed to guide you, not give the game away entirely.
Wordle Hint No. 1: Repeats
Today's Wordle answer contains one repeated letter.
Wordle Hint No. 2: Vowels
The solution includes two vowels.
Wordle Hint No. 3: First Letter
The word begins with the letter R.
Wordle Hint No. 4: Last Letter
And it ends with the letter R.
Wordle Hint No. 5: Meaning
The answer refers to someone who participates in a speed competition. Think fast!
Still stumped? Okay, here comes the answer...
TODAY'S WORDLE ANSWER
Today's Wordle answer is RACER.
Congratulations if you got it! If not, there's always tomorrow.
Yesterday's Wordle Answer
For those curious, yesterday's Wordle answer (January 15th, No. 1671) was CHASM.
Recent Wordle Answers
Here's a quick recap of recent Wordle answers if you want to check your past performance:
* Jan. 11, No. 1667: QUARK
* Jan. 12, No. 1668: TRIAL
* Jan. 13, No. 1669: GUMBO
* Jan. 14, No. 1670: AVOID
By the way, if you appreciate unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews, consider adding CNET as a preferred Google source. That way, you'll never miss out on the latest news and insights.
But here's where it gets controversial... Have you ever wondered if Wordle will eventually run out of words? It's a valid question! When Wordle first launched, creator Josh Wardle used a list of five-letter words that he and his partner recognized. While that amounts to over 2,000 words, more than half have already been used! That's wild!
Wordle editor Tracy Bennett has acknowledged that the game will eventually have to address the finite word list. She's suggested possibilities like recycling old words, allowing plurals or past tense verbs (which are currently not permitted), or even expanding to six-letter words. The possibilities are endless, and it's interesting to speculate about the future of Wordle. And this is the part most people miss: there could be a change to the rules of the game in the future!
What do you think? Should Wordle recycle old words? Or should they introduce new rules to keep the game fresh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! And if you have any other Wordle strategies or tips, feel free to share them too! Happy Wordling!
