Wordle today starts with ‘L’ and ends with ‘H’. It features two vowels and uses no double letters.
The word refers to feeling unwilling, reluctant, or deeply hesitant to do something.
The NYT Wordle answer for May 18, 2026, is ‘LOATH’, a five-letter adjective.
If you are feeling a bit unwilling to take a risky guess on your grid today, you are in the right frame of mind. The NYT Wordle today, for May 18, 2026, is a brilliant reminder that some of the most challenging puzzles rely on words we do not use in regular daily conversations. While the letter placement might feel tricky at first, knowing that every single tile is completely unique gives you a major advantage.
If you find yourself stuck at a crossroads between your third and fourth attempts, do not panic. We have assembled a practical walkthrough below to help you clear the board with confidence. Stick around until the end of the article, where we unpack the history of this word and how it connects to everyday expressions. Let's get solving!
The following hints can help you secure a win:
| Hint Type | Clue |
|---|---|
| First and Last Letter | L and H |
| Vowels | Two vowels - O and A |
| Unique Letters | 5 unique letters (No repeating letters today!) |
| Word Type | Adjective |
| Definition | Unwilling or reluctant to do something. |
| Context | ‘I am ______ to leave the comfort of my bed on a rainy Monday morning.’ |
| Difficulty Level | Medium - The ending consonant combination can catch players off guard. |
Bonus Hints:
If you add a silent 'E' to the very end of this word, it turns into a verb that means to despise or hate something.
The word rhymes with ‘CLOTH’.
Here is the step-by-step path to solving Wordle today:
First Guess: STARE - A phenomenal opening word choice. Today, this starter instantly hits a green 'A' (correct letter) and a yellow (right letter wrong position) 'T'.
Second Guess: TALON - This is a strategic move to reposition ‘T’ while testing new common letters like 'L' and 'O'. All four letters are in the word but in the wrong spots.
Third Guess: SLOTH - This guess is designed to pinpoint the exact positions of the vowels and the 'T'. It works flawlessly, locking in a green 'T' and 'H' at the end. Now the structural layout is _ _ A T H.
Mistakes to Avoid: Remember today’s word is an adjective, close to a six-letter verb . So, don’t try to force that extra 'E' at the end. Also, since there are no repeating letters in this specific puzzle, do not waste a turn guessing words with double vowels like 'LOOTS'.
The answer to Wordle #1794 is LOATH.
The word LOATH carries some highly interesting background details:
Old English Roots: The word stems from the Middle English term ‘loth’ which means loathsome. Over the centuries, the meaning softened down into simple reluctance.
You Can Never Be ‘The Loath Person’: Loath is only used as a predicate adjective, meaning it almost always precedes the word ‘to’. You'd say ‘I am loath to eat broccoli,’ but you would never describe a person as ‘the loath child’.
Nothing to Do with Loafing: Despite sounding similar and carrying a somewhat lazy or sluggish vibe, 'loath' shares no linguistic connection with the word 'loaf' or 'loafer'.
Silent 'E': People frequently confuse 'loath' with 'loathe'. While they share a similar old origin, adding the 'E' transforms the word from an adjective describing hesitation into a strong verb that means intense hatred.
Today’s puzzle shows exactly how Wordle can turn a straightforward, no-repeat word into a real brain-teaser. While the individual letters themselves are common, arranging them into a less frequent adjective pattern can make a player doubt their own vocabulary skills.
Words starting with 'L' appear often, but ending a word with a 'TH' blend right after a 'T' sound in your guessing phase requires a bit of flexible thinking. If you happen to start your morning with a word like 'LATCH', you likely found your way to the solution very quickly.
Come back tomorrow morning for a fresh batch of strategies to keep your winning streak going strong. Happy puzzling!
Also Read: Quordle Today: Hints, Answers, and Strategy Guide for May 18