Today’s Wordle #1794 Hint and Answer for May 18, 2026, Monday

Did your Monday morning routine just get derailed by a deceptively simple grid? You aren't the only one shaking your head at the New York Times board today. While official Wordle hints frequently highlight how vowel-heavy openers can save your streak, the NYT Wordle today shakes up your usual strategy with a structural illusion. If you find yourself staring down a third or fourth row full of yellow tiles, don't panic. Before you risk breaking your hard-earned daily streak, let's look at the patterns in play and dive into the tailored clues for puzzle #1794.

What is the Best Starting Word for Today's Wordle?

Opening with ABOUT or RAISE is highly favored by many early players. However, for the Wordle May 18 puzzle, your ultimate opener is actually FLOAT.

If you use FLOAT as your opening guess today, it reveals four massive yellow tiles: L, O, A, and T. This instantly eliminates a massive chunk of the alphabet and sets you up perfectly to arrange the letters in their proper order by your second or third turn.

What are the NYT Wordle Hints Today for May 18, 2026?

Are you trying to figure out the solution without completely spoiling the fun? Use these strategic, bite-sized clues to guide your next guess:

• Vowel Configuration: There are exactly two vowels (A and O), and they sit side-by-side right in the center of the word.

• Consonant Setup: The word features three unique consonants with no repeating letters.  

• Starting Letter: The word begins with the letter L.

• Ending Letter: It ends with the letter H.

• The Big Trap: Watch your spelling! Many players mistakenly add a silent "E" at the end, turning an adjective into a verb and wasting a critical turn.

• Dictionary Definition: The word is an adjective used to describe someone who is extremely reluctant, hesitant, or unwilling to do something.

Also Read - How to Play NYT Wordle? Rules, Best Starting Words, and New Changes

What is the Wordle Answer Today for May 18, 2026? 

If you are down to your final turn and simply cannot afford to lose your streak, we have your back.

The official NYT Wordle answer today for Monday, May 18, 2026, is LOATH. 

LOATH (adjective): Reluctant; unwilling.

Example: "She was loath to admit that her first guess was completely off the mark."  

Don't confuse this with loathe (the verb meaning to hate something). The lack of an "E" at the end is exactly what made puzzle #1794 a psychological trap for thousands of players this morning!

Previous Answers from Wordle Archive

Wordle Hint for May 16, 2026 #1792: MOVER

Wordle Hint for May 15, 2026 #1791: CREED

Wordle Hint for May 13, 2026 #1789: DOWDY

Wordle Hint for May 12, 2026 #1788: CLOCK

Wordle Hint for May 9, 2026 #1785: SATIN

Also Read - How to Play the NYT Crossplay Game? All about the New Multiplayer App and Rules 

Congratulations on keeping your daily stats intact! Whether you solved it using our hints or needed the final reveal, you successfully outsmarted today's puzzle. Come back tomorrow for another round of daily Wordle clues and solutions!