Wordle Stumps Players With Tricky Waxen Solution

On January 19, 2026, Wordle enthusiasts around the world were greeted with a puzzle that, while not the toughest ever, still managed to stump a fair share of players before they finally landed on the answer: waxen. This five-letter word, featured as puzzle #1675 on The New York Times’ beloved daily word game, quickly became the talk of online forums and social media groups dedicated to the art (and obsession) of Wordle-solving.

For those who might have missed the excitement or simply want to relive the challenge, here’s a look at how the day’s solution unfolded, the strategies that led to its discovery, and why waxen proved to be a memorable answer for so many.

Players who approached the game on January 19 found themselves facing a medium-difficulty puzzle, at least according to several seasoned solvers. As reported by CNET, the puzzle did not contain any repeated letters, a characteristic that often helps narrow down possibilities. The answer started with a W and ended with an N—two clues that, while helpful, didn’t immediately give the game away. On top of that, the word contained two vowels, and—crucially—those vowels were not repeated either. For those who like to play the odds, CNET noted that one of the letters in the answer is among the rarer ones in the English alphabet, ranking 23rd in frequency. That alone made things trickier for those relying on common-letter strategies.

Hints sprinkled across various news outlets and blogs nudged players in the right direction. Parade offered synonyms like "pallid" and "chalky" as clues, while other sites described the word as relating to a "smooth, pale, translucent surface." For anyone still scratching their head, another hint referenced candles—think of the soft, waxy glow they emit. Eventually, the answer was revealed: waxen.

For those unfamiliar, waxen is an adjective with roots in Old English, specifically from "weaxen," meaning "made of wax" or "to grow," as detailed in a blog post cited by Forbes. The word preserves both senses today: it can refer to something literally made of wax or something that has grown or become, especially in a way that’s smooth, pale, and almost translucent. It’s not a word you hear every day, which is perhaps why it tripped up so many players.

But how did players approach the puzzle? According to Forbes, both the author and the Wordle Bot—a digital tool designed to analyze and suggest optimal moves—solved the puzzle in four guesses. The author started with "CRATE," a popular opener, and quickly narrowed down the possibilities. "CRATE was decent, leaving me with 106 possible solutions, and LADEN slashed that down to 5. Sadly, OAKEN only left me with 3 though the only thing I could come up with—other than HAVEN, which I was sure we’d already had as a Wordle—was WAXEN. I didn’t even consider, for instance, MAVEN," the author shared. The Wordle Bot, meanwhile, went with "SLATE" as its starter.

Other sources, including Lifehacker, emphasized the importance of choosing strong starting words. The site recommended options like CRANE, TRACE, SLANT, CRATE, and CARTE—words that maximize the appearance of common letters, giving solvers a better shot at identifying the correct answer quickly. MIT’s analysis, referenced by Lifehacker, suggested that words like SALET, REAST, TRACE, CRATE, and SLATE are statistically likely to eliminate the most possibilities in the first round. Vowel-heavy options like ADIEU and AUDIO also have their champions, though some argue that consonant-rich starters like RENTS or CLAMP are more effective in the long run.

What makes Wordle so compelling, and what keeps players coming back day after day, is the delicate balance between luck and strategy. As Lifehacker explains, "The biggest thing that separates Wordle winners from Wordle losers is that winners use their guesses to gather information about what letters are in the word." It’s not just about guessing words at random—savvy players use each guess as a data-gathering mission, ruling out certain letters and zeroing in on the correct answer through a process of elimination. For example, if you know the word must end in -OUND, it’s better to guess MARSH than to waste guesses on MOUND, ROUND, SOUND, and HOUND individually.

Wordle’s appeal also lies in its sense of community. Everyone faces the same puzzle each day, and there’s a certain camaraderie in sharing results—whether that’s a triumphant two-guess solve or a hard-fought six-guess victory. On January 19, several players and bloggers noted that while the word wasn’t quite as tough as the previous day’s (which was SUMAC), it still required some careful thought. According to Forbes, "Another tough word, though perhaps not quite as tough as yesterday’s. This feels a bit archaic."

Speaking of previous puzzles, Wordle fans love to track their progress and compare notes. Recent answers leading up to January 19 included AVOID, CHASM, RACER, and FIERY, as reported by CNET. The puzzle on January 18 (yesterday) was SUMAC, another word that sent some players scrambling for their dictionaries.

Wordle’s daily ritual has become a cherished part of the morning routine for many. As Parade’s Nathan Hutsenpiller put it, "The day just isn’t complete until I’ve solved all of the free word games from the New York Times, including Connections, Connections Sports Edition, Strands, and Mini Crossword. And, of course, I can’t forget about Wordle, too!" For those who crave even more word game action, alternatives like Dordle, Quordle, Octordle, and Waffle offer fresh challenges, while competitive Wordle modes add a layer of rivalry to the fun.

It’s worth noting that after The New York Times acquired Wordle, the game’s solution list became hand-picked by editors, sometimes featuring trickier or more topical words than before. So, if you felt like waxen was a bit out of left field, you’re not alone—and you can likely expect more curveballs in the future.

In the end, January 19’s Wordle reminded solvers of the joys and frustrations of the game: the satisfaction of cracking a tricky word, the agony of a near-miss, and the gentle nudge to keep sharpening those linguistic wits. Tomorrow brings a new puzzle, a new word, and another shot at Wordle glory.