For millions of puzzle enthusiasts, January 6, 2026, brought a Wordle challenge that left even the most seasoned players scratching their heads. The five-letter word of the day—revealed as "OOMPH"—proved to be one of the trickiest yet, sparking lively debate, frustration, and satisfaction in equal measure across the Wordle community worldwide.
According to CNET, today’s Wordle puzzle (#1662) was described as "definitely the hardest of this new year so far—and might be one of the hardest ever!" The word, which begins with an O and ends with an H, contains two vowels—both the same—and features a repeated letter, a configuration that can easily trip up even the most methodical solvers. Hints offered by various outlets included clues such as "think of 'power'" and "the word is associated with charm," but for many, these nudges were not enough to break through the puzzle’s deceptive simplicity.
The answer, "OOMPH," means energy, strength, or attractiveness—especially as it relates to a person. As Rock Paper Shotgun explained, "Oomph describes energy, strength, or attractiveness, specifically related to a person. If you hear someone say: 'She brings some oomph to this sleepy department,' it means that the new employee is expected to bring new energy, new ideas, etc." This definition, while clear in hindsight, did little to ease the struggle for those caught off guard by the less common letter arrangement.
Testers for The New York Times reported that today’s puzzle was "very challenging," with an average of 6.3 guesses out of 6—a rare occurrence that underscores just how tough "OOMPH" was to deduce. The NYT’s Wordle Review noted, "Today’s puzzle took our testers an average of 6.3 guesses out of 6, or very challenging." For a game that typically rewards pattern recognition and a strong vocabulary, such a high average guess count is noteworthy and a testament to the word’s difficulty.
Hints from a variety of sources tried to point players in the right direction. Parade offered, "There are two vowels in today’s five-letter word. Today’s Wordle begins with a vowel. There are double letters in today’s Wordle. Synonyms for today’s Wordle would be: 'vigor' or 'energy.'" Meanwhile, GamesRadar broke it down further: "Today’s Wordle word begins with O. Today’s Wordle word ends with H. Today’s Wordle word contains 2 vowels. There are 4 unique letters in today’s Wordle word." Even with these clues, the unusual double-O at the start and the less common "PH" ending led many players astray.
Wordle, a simple yet captivating daily word game, has become a staple for countless people since its creation by Josh Wardle in 2021. As Engadget recounted, the game "blew up in popularity in late 2021 after creator Josh Wardle made it easy for players to share an emoji-based grid with their friends and followers that shows how they fare each day in a spoiler-free way." Its viral success prompted a wave of imitators and, ultimately, its acquisition by The New York Times in early 2022. The NYT reported that players collectively played Wordle 5.3 billion times in 2024, a staggering figure that speaks to the game’s enduring appeal.
Wordle’s rules are straightforward: players have six chances to guess a five-letter word, receiving feedback after each guess in the form of colored tiles—green for correct letters in the right spot, yellow for correct letters in the wrong spot, and gray for incorrect letters. The elegance of the system, coupled with its once-daily format, keeps players coming back for more. As GamesRadar reminded readers, "Wordle is wonderfully simple. The aim is to guess the correct five-letter word within six guesses. After each guess, the letters of your chosen word will highlight green if they're in the correct place, yellow if they're in the wrong place, or grey if they don't appear in the word at all."
For those who found today’s puzzle especially vexing, advice abounded. USA Today suggested strategic starting words like "CRANE," "ADIEU," "STARE," and "ROAST," while Rock Paper Shotgun recommended "choom" as a particularly revealing first guess for this puzzle—"If you type in the starting word 'choom', then four letters will turn yellow." The NYT’s Wordle Bot, available to subscribers, can also analyze player performance and offer tips for improvement, making it a valuable tool for those seeking to sharpen their skills.
For those who crave more than one puzzle a day, the NYT’s paid Games subscription offers access to an archive of over 1,600 previous Wordle games—a treasure trove for newcomers and veterans alike. Engadget noted, "If you have a NYT subscription that includes full access to the publication's games, you don't have to stop after a single round of Wordle. You'll have access to an archive of more than 1,600 previous Wordle games." This feature allows enthusiasts to catch up on missed puzzles or simply indulge in a little extra brain-teasing fun.
Recent Wordle answers leading up to today included "FILLY" on January 5, "POSSE" on January 4, "SITAR" on January 3, "PROOF" on January 2, and "FABLE" on January 1, as reported by both CNET and Engadget. Each day’s puzzle offers a fresh challenge, but "OOMPH" stands out for its difficulty and the lively discussions it inspired across social media and comment sections.
Part of Wordle’s charm is the community that has sprung up around it. Players share their results in spoiler-free grids, trade hints, and commiserate over tough words. The NYT encourages this camaraderie, inviting readers to "Join the conversation on social media. Use the hashtag #wordlereview to chat with other solvers. Leave any thoughts you have in the comments!" The sense of shared struggle—and triumph—binds the community together, no matter how fiendish the puzzle may be.
For those who didn’t manage to crack today’s puzzle, there’s always the promise of tomorrow. As Engadget cheerfully pointed out, "Not to worry if you didn't figure out today's Wordle word. If you made it this far down the page, hopefully you at least kept your streak going. And, hey: there's always another game tomorrow." And so, with a collective sigh and a newfound respect for the word "OOMPH," Wordle fans will return, ready to face whatever linguistic challenge the next day brings.
