Today’s Wordle starts with ‘S’ and ends with ‘D’. It has a rare consonant in the second position.
The word refers to a small group of people organized for a specific task, often used in military or sports contexts.
The NYT Wordle answer for February 17, 2026, is SQUAD, a word that carries a sense of unity and collective action.
NYT Wordle today, for February 17 (Tuesday), brings a festive challenge to the table. As many celebrate Mardi Gras and the Chinese New Year, the puzzle presents a structure that might feel a bit ‘square’ at first. The placement of a specific high-value consonant acts as the gatekeeper, potentially halting players who stick to vowel-heavy strategies. It is a word that brings to mind elite teams, friendship circles, and tactical formations.
If you have ever talked about your ‘friendship goals’ or watched a tactical unit move in unison, you are already familiar with today's solution. If the letters aren't clicking yet, let’s dive into hints and an expert walkthrough created to help you conquer Wordle today!
Bonus: Go to the bottom of the article to find some fun facts about the solution.
Before I show you the Wordle answer today, try reaching it with these easy clues:
| Hint Type | Clue |
|---|---|
| First and Last Letter | S and D |
| Vowels | Two - U and A |
| Unique Consonants | Yes, the letter Q. |
| Word Type | Noun / Verb |
| Definition | A small group of people organized for a joint effort. |
| Context | The police dispatched a special ____ to investigate the scene. |
| Difficulty Level | Tricky- the 'Q' without an 'I' can be a stumbling block. |
1. This word is typically used in sports to refer to the whole roster of a team.
2. It rhymes with words like FRAUD (phonetically) or PROD (roughly), depending on your accent.
3. If you remove the 'S' from the beginning, you are left with a word that sounds like a four-sided shape.
Here is my strategic approach to Wordle today that will help you crack the puzzle in just three tries:
First Guess: SPOUT- This is a great starting word to test common consonants and two vowels. It pays off immediately by locking in a green ‘S’ at the start and revealing a yellow ‘U’. This tells us the word begins with ‘S’ and has a ‘U’ somewhere else.
Second Guess: ROADS- Since we already have the starting letter, this guess focuses on ruling out other common vowels and consonants. This move turns the ‘A’ and ‘D’ yellow while ruling out ‘R’ and ‘O’. At this point, we know the word has an ‘S’, ‘U’, ‘A’, and ‘D’.
Third Guess: STEAD- With four letters identified, we need to find the correct placement. This guess confirms the green ‘D’ at the end and the green ‘A’ in the fourth spot.
We now have S _ _ A D. Looking at our yellow ‘U’ from the first guess, it only has two possible spots left. When you combine the remaining letters with the rare but necessary ‘Q’, the only word that fits the formation is SQUAD.
Mistakes to Avoid: Many players get stuck at S _ _ A D trying to force more common letters like ‘L’ or ‘M’ into the middle. Remember the Wordle hints, which told you that today’s answer has a ‘Q’. You found ‘U’ in the first guess, so don’t forget it now, as in English words, ‘U’ almost always follows a ‘Q’.
The answer to Wordle #1704 is SQUAD.
The word SQUAD has a history rooted in geometry and military precision:
Squared Away: The word comes from the Italian ‘squadra’, which means ‘square.’ ‘Squadron’ also comes from the same Italian word, making it SQUAD’s close English cousin. This referred to a square formation of soldiers, which was a standard tactical move in early warfare. It traveled from the Latin ‘exquadra’ to the French ‘escouade’ before landing in the English language in the 17th century.
Modern Slang: In recent years, ‘Squad’ became a massive pop culture term used by celebrities and social media users to describe a close-knit group of friends. For example, Taylor Swift’s squad consists of Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, and more.
The ‘Awkward Squad’: This funny term was coined in the 18th century for military recruits who were bad at their duties. Famous poet Robert Burns even requested that an ‘awkward squad’ not fire a salute at his funeral! In modern British English, it refers to people who tend to disagree or oppose an organization's rules politically.
Also Read: NYT Wordle Answer Today for February 16, 2026: Hints and Expert Walkthrough Revealed
Today’s puzzle was a classic ‘trap’ for players who avoid the left side of the keyboard. While 'S', 'A', and 'D' are very common, the 'Q' often feels like a wasted guess until it is the only thing that fits. It served as a great reminder that tactical patience, testing vowels, and then hunting for the rare consonants is the best way to keep your streak alive.
Come back tomorrow to find more hints, fun facts, and an expert walkthrough!
Also Read: Today’s Quordle Hints and Answers for Feb 17, 2026