Today’s Hurdle runs the full range — from a common everyday verb to an uncommon adjective that might trip up even experienced players. Whether you’re breezed through four words or stuck on the final hurdle, this guide gives you hints first and answers only when you scroll down for them.
What Is Hurdle?
Hurdle is a five-round word guessing game. In Round 1, you guess a mystery five color-coded feedback: green for correct letter in the right spot, yellow for correct letter in the wrong spot, and gray for letters not in the word. Once you solve Round 1, that answer becomes your starting guess in Round 2 — and so on, chaining through all five rounds.
The final round is the most complex: all four previous answers appear as pre-filled guesses, giving you a web of letter clues to work from. One important rule to keep in mind — the number of times a letter is highlighted across earlier rounds doesn’t necessarily reflect how many times it appears in the final word.
Word 1 — March 9, 2026
Hint
Something you do to keep an eye on things. Also worn on a wrist.
Answer
WATCH
WATCH is a classic five-letter word with two common meanings: to observe or monitor something, and the timepiece you wear on your wrist. It’s a strong opener for Hurdle because it contains high-frequency letters (W, A, T, C, H) that can reveal useful information early in the chain.
Word 2 — March 9, 2026
Hint
An informal adjective meaning run-down, worn-out, or in poor condition. Less common than its synonyms.
Answer
MANGLY
MANGLY is the trickiest word in today’s set. It means shabby or in a mangled, deteriorated state. The -LY suffix can throw players off if they’re not thinking of adjectives, and the MAN- opening might send you down the wrong path. If you got this one without hints, well done.
Word 3 — March 9, 2026
Hint
The very end. The last of something in a series or sequence.
Answer
FINAL
FINAL is a satisfying mid-chain word — clean, common, and easy to confirm once you have the F and L locked in from your earlier guesses. It means last in order or position, with no possibility of anything following it.
Word 4 — March 9, 2026
Hint
A verb meaning to assert or declare something as fact, often in a legal or formal context.
Answer
CLAIM
CLAIM means to state that something is true, or to assert a right to something. In legal contexts it refers to a formal assertion. The C-L-A-I-M pattern is fairly distinctive, and by Round 4 you should have several letters locked in to narrow it down quickly.
Final Hurdle — March 9, 2026
Hint
The opposite of old. Associated with youth and freshness.
Answer
YOUNG
YOUNG wraps up today’s Hurdle on a straightforward note. It means not old, in an early stage of life, or characterized by the qualities of youth. By the time you reach the final round, WATCH, MANGLY, FINAL, and CLAIM all appear as prior guesses — giving you the letters Y, O, U, N, and G to work with across rows. The final answer snaps into place cleanly once you spot the pattern.
Quick Answer Summary
- Word 1: WATCH
- Word 2: MANGLY
- Word 3: FINAL
- Word 4: CLAIM
- Word 5 (Final): YOUNG
More Daily Puzzle Help
Looking for hints on today’s other puzzles? Check out these recent guides:
- March 7, 2026 Hurdle Hints and Answers
- March 4, 2026 Hurdle Hints and Answers
- March 8, 2026 Wordle #1723 Hint and Answer
- March 8, 2026 NYT Connections Puzzle #1001 Hints and Answers
- March 8, 2026 NYT Mini Crossword Hints and Answers
- March 8, 2026 NYT Connections Sports Edition #531 Hints and Answers