Wordle Hint for August 12, 2026 — #1880 Clues & Answer

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The Hint Ladder

Each rung gives away a little more

Some people back down from a challenge the moment things get tough, avoiding conflict even when they know they should stand firm. That spineless quality is what this word captures.

This word has vowels. No letters repeat.

Starts with . Ends with .

The word is an adjective often applied to people or actions that show a lack of courage or firmness. You might use it to describe a half-hearted apology that avoids real accountability. For instance, 'He gave a weak excuse about having a headache and left the room.'

Rhymes with skimpy.

NO MORE GUESSING

Wordle Answer for August 12, 2026

Puzzle #1880

The tiles are face-down. Flip them when you’re ready — there’s no undo.

WIMPY — This word is a staple of everyday English, appearing in all kinds of casual conversation to describe anything from a timid animal to a half-hearted effort. The concept of weakness or cowardice is universal, so the meaning is instantly familiar to most speakers. Its spelling is a straightforward match to its sound: the short I, the MP, and the final Y. There are no tricky silent letters or unusual letter pairings. Because it's so common, many solvers will recognize it within a few guesses once they have a couple of letters on the board. The main challenge comes from the fact that it ends in Y, which might lead some to try other vowels first, but the word itself is so entrenched that the bulk of players find it quickly.

POST-GAME

How Hard Was It?

Difficulty & what trips people up

Difficulty

4 /10

medium

What trips people up

Many solvers, after pinning down the W and the final Y, will try something like WINDY — a very common word that fits the pattern but wastes a turn. WISPY is another natural choice, with the WI- start and soft feel, but it doesn't match the necessary middle letters. The noun WIMPS also trips people up; they'll see the singular 'wimp' and reason that the answer might be the plural, forgetting that the puzzle rarely uses such forms. For others, the Y suggests an adjective, and they cycle through words like WACKY or WOOZY before reconsidering the consonant blend. The moment of clarity arrives when they focus on the MP cluster: it's a simple, everyday sound, but the brain often doesn't pair it with that Y ending right away. Once they stop looking for an exotic letter combination and trust the straightforward -IMPY structure, the correct answer surfaces.

OPTIMAL PATH

Step-by-Step Solving Path

Two openers compared

These paths show how an experienced solver reaches the answer from two popular openers. Step 1 is the opener — always shown. Reveal each next step only when you’re ready.

Starts with Ends with null vowels

Strategy A — SLATE Opener

1 SLATE

2 CRIMP

3 WINDY

4 WIMPY

Strategy B — CRANE Opener

1 CRANE

2 SLIMY

3 WIMPY

THE WORD

Word Story

The word captures a lack of strength, courage, or assertiveness in a person, action, or even an object. A wimpy handshake feels limp and unconfident; a wimpy drink is watered-down and feeble. It carries a slight teasing edge — calling someone wimpy is less harsh than calling them a coward, but it still suggests they need to toughen up. The adjective is often applied to characters in fiction who shrink from danger or conflict, making it a staple of playground taunts and lighthearted criticism. Perhaps the most enduring real-world association is with the cartoon character J. Wellington Wimpy from Popeye, whose scheming but spineless personality made the name synonymous with that exact blend of cleverness and timidity. Today, you'll hear it in casual remarks like 'Don't be so wimpy about the roller coaster' or 'This coffee is too wimpy for me.'