Today’s Wordle Hints for Feb. 17, 2026

Fresh hints and analysis for the Feb. 17, 2026 Wordle — spoilers ahead. The puzzle is released at midnight in your time zone; this write-up is dated and timed on Eastern Time (ET). If you haven’t played yet and want to avoid a giveaway, stop now.

Answer and quick hints

Today’s answer is SQUAD. The word works both as a noun and a verb: it can describe a small group working together or the act of organizing such a group. Expect a lineup of letters that includes an uncommon consonant pairing and a couple of vowels that can make early guesses swing widely.

Key clues to keep in mind for this puzzle:

• Starts with the letter S.
• Features the letter Q, typically followed by U in English words.
• Functions as both a noun and a verb in everyday usage.

How solvers fared and what that suggests

Playtest data shows this puzzle landed in the moderately challenging range: testers averaged 4. 8 guesses out of six. Testers are assigned to try each puzzle in advance and a miss is counted as seven guesses. That mix of difficulty suggests the word is solvable with methodical letter elimination, but rare letters can derail a quick win if they’re missed early.

Practical takeaway from the stats: if your opening guesses don’t lock down S or the Q-U pairing, prioritize tiles that probe consonant clusters and common vowel placements. When a Q shows up in a guess, think of the near-certainty that a U will follow somewhere in the answer; that relationship can often narrow options dramatically.

Strategy tips for today’s grid

1) Start with an S-friendly opener if you like to chase likely initial letters — it can pay off here, since the answer begins with that letter. 2) If you land a Q early, shift strategy to find the U and then use remaining slots to test surrounding consonants. 3) Keep a mental list of five-letter nouns and verbs that fit revealed patterns; switching to word families can speed up a solve once you have two or three confirmed tiles.

For players who prefer conservative, information-rich first moves: include a mix of common vowels and high-frequency consonants to avoid getting boxed in by rare letters. For riskier play: baiting for Q early can either end the game quickly or force recovery on later guesses.

Illustration credit is given to Laina Deene, whose bright, textured work accompanies today’s puzzle art. Share your score and strategies with other solvers if you want to compare approaches — community discussion often highlights smart starter words and defensive tactics for unusual letter combinations.

Play on, and good luck — remember, the clock resets for each time zone at midnight local time, and this summary follows Eastern Time (ET) dating conventions.