Full Breakdown
QUELL: Wordle #1820 Answer (June 13, 2026)
6/13/2026, 8:47:07 PM
Core Puzzle Details
On June 13, 2026 the New York Times Wordle (puzzle #1820) required a five-letter verb starting with Q, ending with L, containing two vowels, a repeated letter, and meaning “to stop or put an end to something.” The answer is QUELL.
Recent Context
Wordle, a daily five-letter puzzle launched in 2021 and now run by the New York Times, has recent answers MAFIA (June 8), WHARF (June 9), ALIGN (June 10), TESTY (June 11), BREAK (June 12), and QUELL (June 13).
Data & Statistics
Most guides list two vowels (U, E) and a double L; NME notes a single vowel. Only 23 of 2,309 answers start with Q (?1 %). CNET reports an average of 4.2 guesses, Tom’s Guide four, while Sportskeeda shows a placeholder 0.0 % solving in three or fewer attempts. WordleBot scores average 3.9–4.0, skill 97–99, luck 0–36.
Why the Q-Opening Matters
The rare initial Q forces players to abandon common starter words such as CRANE or SLATE and test less-frequent probes (e.g., QUIFF, QUOTA), increasing early gray tiles and raising streak-loss risk for those relying on high-frequency letters.
Official Statements & Responses
WordleBot recorded an average score of 3.9 for the June 13 puzzle. TechRadar called Q “one of the rarest starting letters in Wordle history.” Tom’s Guide noted that “only 23 answers start with ‘Q’, which is the second rarest character.” Eastern Herald warned that “players who rely on high-frequency vowel openers are immediately disadvantaged.”
Criticism & Opposition
Guides note player frustration with Q-opening puzzles. TechRadar labeled the opening Q “a psychological hurdle,” and Eastern Herald called it “a structural challenge” that penalizes habitual strategies. Critics argue the single rare letter disproportionately affects puzzle accessibility.
On-the-Ground Reports
Tom’s Guide author wrote, “I typed in QUELL and completed the puzzle in four moves.” A TechRadar player reported, “I found three of the four — BULGE, BUGLE and GUILE — but completely missed QUELL.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on vowel count: most cite two vowels, while NME reports only one. Average guess figures also vary—CNET 4.2 moves, Tom’s Guide four, Sportskeeda a placeholder 0.0 % solving in three or fewer attempts. No source provides player-level luck data.
Verbatim Quotes
- “5: Meaning Today's Wordle answer can mean to stop or put an end to something.” — CNET, introduction
- “It's associated with stopping something.” — USA Today, introduction
- “Drumroll, please — it's QUELL.” — Tom’s Guide, middle
- “Hint 4 – Meaning: The word means to suppress, put down, or bring something forcibly under control – a rebellion, a fear, a disturbance, a rising noise.” — Eastern Herald, introduction
What's Next
The next Wordle puzzle (#1821) will appear at midnight local time on June 14, 2026. Guides recommend versatile starter words such as CRANE, SLATE, or RAISE.
