Stuck on today’s Hurdle puzzle? You’re in the right place. Below you’ll find every hint and answer for the February 17, 2026 Hurdle — from Word 1 all the way to the Final Hurdle.
What Is Hurdle?
Hurdle is a daily word puzzle game similar to Wordle. Instead of one word, you solve five connected words in sequence.
Each correct answer becomes the first guess for the next round, carrying over colored clues. The final hurdle shows all previous correct answers as starting clues, making it the most challenging step.
How to Read the Clues
- Green — Correct letter, correct position.
- Yellow — Correct letter, wrong position.
- Gray — Letter not in the word.
Note: the number of highlighted letters from previous answers does not always equal the number of times that letter appears in the next word.
Today’s Hurdle Hints and Answers — February 17, 2026
Hurdle Word 1
Hint: To make amends.
Answer: ATONE
Hurdle Word 2
Hint: Recovery.
Answer: REHAB
Hurdle Word 3
Hint: Glimmering.
Answer: SHINY
Hurdle Word 4
Hint: Foundation.
Answer: BASIS
Final Hurdle (Word 5)
Hint: Preface.
Answer: INTRO
Quick Answer Summary
- Word 1: ATONE
- Word 2: REHAB
- Word 3: SHINY
- Word 4: BASIS
- Final Hurdle: INTRO
Tips for Solving Hurdle Puzzles
Looking to improve your Hurdle game? These strategies can help:
- Pay close attention to yellow letters — they’re in the word, just in the wrong spot.
- Use the previous answer as a starting scaffold to narrow down possibilities quickly.
- For the final hurdle, study all four previous answers together before guessing.
- Common five-letter words with frequent vowels make excellent opening guesses.
More Daily Word Puzzles to Try
If you enjoy Hurdle, there are plenty of other daily word games to keep your brain sharp:
- Wordle — The classic daily five-letter word puzzle.
- NYT Connections — Group 16 words into four categories.
- NYT Connections Sports Edition — A sports-focused spin on Connections.
- Strands — Find themed words hidden in a letter grid.