NYT Wordle Answer Yesterday (February 19, 2026)

Word of the Day: "HOIST" — Complete Dictionary Breakdown

Pronunciation: /hɔɪst/

Part of Speech: Verb, noun

Definition(s):

1. As a verb, it means to lift or raise something, often requiring physical effort or mechanical assistance. For example, "They had to hoist the sails to catch the wind."
2. As a noun, it refers to the act of lifting or the device used for lifting, such as a pulley or crane. For instance, "The hoist in the gym helped lift the heavy weights."
3. In informal contexts, it can mean to steal or swipe something, though this usage is less common. For example, "He tried to hoist the wallet from the table."

Synonyms: Lift (to raise), elevate (to move upward), crane (as a device), heave (to lift with force), haul (to pull heavily), raise (to move upward)

Antonyms: Lower, drop, descend

Example Sentences:

• The construction crew used a hoist to move the heavy beams into place.
• She had to hoist her backpack onto the top shelf.
• In the old days, sailors would hoist the sails by hand.
• I couldn't believe hoist was today's Wordle answer—it felt a bit tricky!

Etymology: The word "hoist" comes from the Middle English "hoyse," which is derived from the Old French "hisser," meaning "to raise" or "to lift." Over time, it evolved to include both the action of lifting and the tools used to perform that action. Historically, it was often used in nautical contexts, referring to raising sails or anchors.

Grammar Notes: The plural form is "hoists." As a verb, it follows regular conjugation patterns: "hoist" (present), "hoisted" (past tense), and "hoisting" (present participle). The noun form can also be used attributively, as in "hoist operator." A common mistake is confusing it with "hoist" as a homophone for "hoisted," though they are related.

How I Solved Today's Wordle

I started with my go-to opener, "CRANE." It’s a solid choice because it covers multiple vowels and common consonants. When I submitted "CRANE," the "C" and "R" turned gray, but the "A" turned yellow. This told me that "A" was in the word but not in the third position.

For my second guess, I switched to "SHADE." I wanted to test the "H" and "E" while keeping the "A" in a different spot. The "H" turned green, and the "A" remained yellow but in a new position. This confirmed that "H" was in the first position and "A" was somewhere else in the word.

With "H" locked in, my third guess was "HOPED." I was testing the "O" and "E," but the "O" turned green, and the "E" turned gray. Now I knew the word started with "HO" and contained "A" but not "E" or "D."

My fourth guess was "HOIST," which finally revealed all the green letters. The "I" and "S" fell into place, and the word was solved. It felt satisfying to crack it, even though it took a few attempts.

Overall, it was a moderate difficulty puzzle. The "H" at the beginning was a bit of a curveball, but once I figured that out, the rest fell into place. Got it in 4/6 today—felt pretty good about it!

Best Starting Words for Today's Wordle

If I had to do it over, here are four starting words that would have cracked "hoist" faster:

1. HOUSE - Shares the "H," "O," and "U" (though "U" isn't in "hoist"). The "H" and "O" would have turned green immediately, giving a strong foundation.

2. HOIST - Obviously, if I had thought of it sooner, but it's a great example of a word that matches perfectly.

3. HOOPS - Contains "H," "O," and shares the "S" at the end. The "P" would have been gray, but the overlapping letters would have provided valuable clues.

4. WHICH - Includes "H" and shares the "I" and "C" (though "C" isn't in "hoist"). The "H" would have been green, and the "I" would have turned yellow.

Recent Wordle History & Patterns

Looking back at recent answers like "mogul," "squad," and "roost," it seems like Wordle is leaning into slightly less common words. "Mogul" and "hoist" both have that classic, slightly vintage feel to them.

One pattern I noticed is the recurrence of "O" in recent answers. Both "mogul" and "roost" feature "O," and now "hoist" continues that trend. It also seems like Wordle is favoring words with multiple vowels, making vowel-heavy starting words more effective.

"Hoist" feels right in line with this difficulty curve. It's not overly obscure, but it's not a word you use every day either. If you're familiar with nautical terms or construction equipment, it might have been easier. Otherwise, it could have been a bit of a head-scratcher.

Expert Tips to Keep Your Streak Alive

Starting strong is half the battle. I always recommend vowel-heavy openers like "CRANE," "SLATE," or "ADIEU." These words cover multiple vowels and common consonants, giving you the best chance to get early clues.

When you get those gray letters, don’t ignore them! Elimination is key. If you see that "E" or "T" isn’t in the word, make a mental note and avoid them in future guesses. This narrows down the possibilities faster.

If you’re stuck on guess four or five, try to think outside the box. Maybe the word has a less common vowel or an unexpected letter combination. If you're really stuck, you can always use our Wordle Solver tool to narrow down possibilities—just enter your green, yellow, and gray letters and it instantly shows all matching words.

In Hard Mode, your strategy needs to be even tighter. Use the clues from each guess to inform your next move without deviation. It’s a stricter way to play, but it can also be more rewarding.

Play Unlimited Wordle

Done with today's puzzle? I know the feeling of wanting more. That's why I love WordSolverX Multidle. It lets you play as many Wordle games as you want, with options for different word lengths and difficulty levels.

Whether you want to practice your skills or just pass the time, Multidle offers unlimited daily games, weekly challenges, and even custom puzzles ranging from 4 to 12 letters. It’s a great way to sharpen your vocabulary and improve your solving speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is "HOIST" a hard Wordle answer?

I’d rate "hoist" a 6 out of 10 in terms of difficulty. It’s not the most common word, but it’s not extremely rare either. The "H" at the beginning might throw some players off, as it’s less common as a starting letter. However, once you figure out the "H" and "O," the rest falls into place relatively easily. Overall, it’s a fair challenge that’s achievable with the right strategy.

What does "hoist" mean?

"Hoist" primarily means to lift or raise something, often with effort or machinery. For example, "They used a hoist to lift the heavy box." It can also refer to the act of lifting itself or, informally, to steal something. It’s a versatile word with both physical and metaphorical uses.

What are the best starting words for Wordle?

My top picks for starting words are "CRANE," "SLATE," and "STARE." These words are rich in vowels and cover a broad range of common consonants, giving you the best chance to get early clues. They’re statistically sound choices that maximize your odds of hitting green or yellow letters.

Can I play Wordle more than once a day?

Absolutely! While the official NYT Wordle resets daily, you can play unlimited games with WordSolverX Multidle. It offers classic Wordle gameplay along with custom puzzles, weekly challenges, and even different word lengths to keep things fresh.

Does Wordle ever repeat answers?

No, Wordle does not repeat answers. The game uses a curated list of words, and once a word has been used, it doesn’t appear again. The original Wordle had a pool of about 2,300 words, and NYT has continued this practice, ensuring each day’s answer is unique.

How many possible Wordle answers are there?

The original Wordle had a pool of around 2,300 common 5-letter words. However, not every 5-letter English word is eligible. NYT has further curated the list, removing obscure or less common words to keep the game balanced and fun. This means there are thousands of possible answers, but they’re carefully selected to match the game’s difficulty and style.

What happens if I miss a day in Wordle?

If you miss a day, your streak will reset, but the game will still be there for you when you return. If you’re worried about missing out on past answers, you can always check our archive at WordSolverX to see what you missed. The important thing is to keep playing and having fun!