Spoilers ahead for Wordle No. 1552. If you want to solve first, play it here on the official Wordle page.

Quick, spoiler‑free hints

  • Starts with K.
  • The initial letter is silent.
  • Contains two vowels.
  • No repeated letters.
  • Think kitchen tool… or something sharp in general.

Today’s answer

KNIFE.

The New York Times’ daily Wordle Review confirms the solution and pegs the puzzle at a “moderately challenging” level, with test solvers averaging 4.6 out of 6 guesses.

Why this one tripped people up

“KNIFE” combines a less common starting consonant with a silent letter, which can delay early feedback if you lean on ultra‑common openers. The K–N cluster narrows possibilities quickly once discovered, but it’s easy to spend a guess or two circling more frequent starters like S, C, or T before pivoting. Two mid‑word vowels (I and E) help once one lands, and the lack of duplicate letters keeps endgame branching under control.

A clean path to the solve

  • Probe for vowels early. Openers that cover I/E plus common consonants (e.g., SLATE, REACT) can light up the midgame.
  • Clock the silent‑letter pattern. If you’ve found N–I–E or –NIFE shapes, consider silent‑K starts (KN‑) before trying rarer consonant pairs.
  • Use targeted eliminations. Words that test K/N/F placements (e.g., FINKS as a checker, if your grid allows) can collapse branches fast.
  • Avoid chasing doubles. There aren’t any repeats today, so don’t burn guesses testing them.

Difficulty snapshot

Testers averaged 4.6 guesses on today’s puzzle, designated “moderately challenging” in the review. Your own line will vary based on opener choice and whether you pivot early to KN‑ patterns.

What “KNIFE” means in Wordle’s context

It’s the straightforward sense: a handheld cutting instrument with a blade set in a handle. In everyday use it’s a kitchen utensil; as a verb, it can mean to cut or stab.

Want a post‑game breakdown?

Feed your grid to Wordle Bot for a move‑by‑move analysis, efficiency score, and alternative lines you could have taken. Try it on the official Wordle Bot page.

If you’re catching up

  • Yesterday (No. 1551): TEETH

You can browse historical puzzles in the official Wordle archive (subscription required).

Tips for the next one

  • Cover common vowels in two guesses. If your first play whiffs, use a second that targets the remaining vowels and high‑frequency consonants.
  • Respect position info. In Hard Mode, every revealed letter must be reused; it’s good discipline even if you don’t enable it.
  • Track silent‑letter families. KN‑, WR‑, and GN‑ openers can be worth testing when your grid suggests them.