Wordle Answer Today (July 21, 2026) - NYT Wordle #1858
Today's Wordle answer for puzzle #1858 on July 21, 2026, sits a little further down, but first come the hints to keep things fair. These focus on the basics like the opening letter and vowel setup, ideal for protecting a streak or just enjoying the daily solve. The difficulty sits at an average level, around three guesses out of six, and rewards starters that test common vowels and consonants without overcomplicating the path.
Three spoiler-free hints come next, followed by a slightly stronger nudge based on meaning. Take your time—the full reveal waits below once you've worked through the clues.
Hints (spoiler-free)
- Starts with the letter S.
- Contains one vowel.
- Includes a double letter.
Stronger hint: Synonym for the word decoy.
ANSWER
SHILL
Average in challenge, this puzzle often resolves in three guesses once the double letter appears. Openers like ADIEU surface the single vowel in yellow early, after which words such as STILL help confirm the repeated L and the starting S. The solution locks in once the promotional sense of the word aligns with the remaining tiles.
Meaning & usage
Plain-English definition: Someone who secretly promotes a product, service, or idea while pretending to be an impartial, everyday customer.
Part of speech: noun.
- The store employed a shill to create excitement around the new gadget.
- Viewers quickly spotted the shill in the audience praising the product.
Note: SHILL benefits from early checks for repeated letters once the vowel and starting consonant are placed, which narrows the field efficiently given its compact pattern.
Quick solving tip
With only one vowel and a repeated consonant, begin with openers such as ADIEU to isolate the vowel position, then follow with testers that check for doubles like LL or SS. This sequence helps confirm the repeat early and reduces the remaining possibilities before committing to the final consonants.