Today's Wordle hint and answer #697: Wednesday, May 17

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Solve today's Wordle(opens in new tab) exactly the way you want to with our helpful range of tips and advice. There's a fresh clue for the May 17 (697) game waiting below if you'd like a hint, or today's answer is only a quick click away if you need to rescue an unlucky game. You'll also find past answers, general help, and plenty more.

The results of today's opener really could've gone either way for me—one green and one yellow isn't a terrible start, but it's not good enough to guarantee a swift win either. Happily, luck was on my side this time, my follow-up almost gave me today's Wordle answer, and my third go polished off a satisfying game.

The word you need to find today describes a long, thin piece of wood often used to build floors. Pirates apparently had a fondness for making people walk one of these, stereotypically into shark-infested waters. There's only one vowel today. 

There are no repeat letters in today's Wordle. 

Playing Wordle well is like achieving a small victory every day—who doesn't like a well-earned winning streak in a game you enjoy? If you're new to the daily word game, or just want a refresher, I'm going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success: 

There's no time pressure beyond making sure it's done by the end of the day. If you're struggling to find the answer or a tactical word for your next guess, there's no harm in coming back to it later on. 

Another day, another win. The answer to the May 17 (697) Wordle isPLANK.

Knowing previous Wordle solutions can be helpful in eliminating current possibilities. It's unlikely a word will be repeated and you can find inspiration for guesses or starting words that may be eluding you. 

Here are some recent Wordle answers:

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