5 FiveLetterWords
Very unlikely Accepted guess B tier for first-turn info

CLIES

CLIES is an accepted guess. Its modelled answer likelihood is very unlikely; no globally completed appearance is recorded here.

Meaning and pronunciation

Verb

third-person singular simple present indicative of cly

Source: Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Corrections.

Use CLIES in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 95.5% of possible answers.

Open Solver with CLIES Open Word Finder

Wordle status

Answer chance: very unlikely. Roughly 0.05% within a year (about 1 in 2,113), under the model through 2026-11-05. This is an estimate, not a publisher forecast. How this is calculated.

Playable guess

Yes

Included in the Wordle guess list used by our tools.

Earlier benchmark pool

No

Membership in the preserved uniform benchmark; it is not a future eligibility rule.

Past Wordle answer

No completed appearance

No appearance in our globally completed history. A recent puzzle may still be live elsewhere.

The possible-answer list is the solver's current list and may change when Wordle adds new answers.

How CLIES performs as a guess

Wordle accepts CLIES as a guess. It is outside this preserved uniform benchmark’s answer pool; that is not a claim about future eligibility.

Played as an opener, it lands at least one colored tile in 87.3% of games, misses completely in 12.7%, and leaves about 106 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #840 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.59 guesses in games solved within six turns.

Try your feedback pattern

Tap the tiles to match your feedback, then see the ranked follow-up guesses.

All gray? Tap a tile to cycle gray → yellow → green.
See strategy patterns

Useful pattern pages

If you only know part of the word, start with one of these matching patterns.

C___S C in the 1st position and S in the 5th position C__E_ C in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _L__S L in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position CL_ES C in the 1st position, L in the 2nd position, E in the 4th position, and S in the 5th position

Explore lists that match the beginning, ending or letters in CLIES.

First-turn measures

All four describe CLIES used as an opening guess. Entropy is the same idea as “avg ruled out” on a log scale: a higher number means the guess splits the possible answers into more, smaller groups.

5.33 Entropy (bits)
106 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
95.5% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How CLIES performed in the previous complete opener benchmark, against its captured answer snapshot. These research figures are separate from today's solver recommendations. See the data page for the method.

3.59 Avg guesses
99.92% Solved within six
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#840 Rank among openers
Opening with CLIES left 2 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.69 means those games clustered within about 0.69 of a guess of the 3.59 average. It ranks #840 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
77
3 guesses
993
4 guesses
1,100
5 guesses
170
6 guesses
12

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
EILS

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
87%
Green tile
38%
All gray
13%

When CLIES is useful later

CLIES tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 3 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After ADIEU: 4 candidates, normal mode

ADIEU: 02000 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: ODDLY, ODOOM, ODORS, ODYLS.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, CLIES is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After AUDIO: 3 candidates, normal mode

AUDIO: 11200 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: LADDU, SADHU, UNDAM.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, CLIES is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After ROATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

ROATE: 10101 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

AWNER: 10011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ZEBRA: 01012 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: CREMA, ERICA, PRESA.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, CLIES is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
Sample and method

Every saved board is reachable within a six-turn game. Remaining turns equal six minus the saved history length. The sampling policy is independent of the expected-survivor metric. Two states at each of three depths per opener were selected by a fixed hash from an independent candidate-only sampling policy. Every accepted guess was evaluated. Model answer-model-2026-11-05-9183a914c959, data through 2026-11-05. The score measures expected survivors, not proved solve length or human difficulty.

How this is calculated.

How the solver finds CLIES

The strategy receives only earlier guesses and their feedback. It does not know the answer before choosing a move. Guessing the answer itself on turn one is a lucky one-turn result, not a recommended general strategy.

Normal mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 853 after. This feedback leaves 853 candidates.

    All 853 surviving candidates

    BECKS, BEDES, BEEFS, BEEPS, BEINS, BELLS, BENDS, BENES, BENIS, BESES, BESOM, BEZES, BHELS, BIBES, BICES, BIDES, BIKES, BILES, BINES, BISES, BIZES, BLEBS, BLEES, BLEYS, BLUES, BODES, BOEPS, BOKES, BOLES, BONES, BOSEY, BOWES, BOXES, BUDES, BUKES, BUSED, BUSES, BYDES, BYKES, CEDES, CEDIS, CEILS, CELLS, CEPES, CHEFS, CHEMS, CHEWS, CIDES, CIELS, CINES, CIVES, CLEFS, CLEGS, CLEMS, CLEWS, CLIES, CLUES, CODES, COEDS, COKES, COLES, COMES, CONES, COPES, COSEC, COSED, COSES, COSEY, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUSEC, CUZES, CYMES, DEBES, DEBUS, DECKS, DECOS, DEEDS, DEEMS, DEENS, DEEPS, DEEVS, DEFIS, DEGUS, DEIDS, DEILS, DEKES, DELES, DELFS, DELIS, DELLS, DELOS, DEMES, DEMOS, DENES, DENIS, DESEX, DESHI, DESIS, DESKS, DEVIS, DEVOS, DEXES, DEXYS, DICES, DIEBS, DIELS, DIKES, DIMES, DINES, DIVES, DOBES, DOEKS, DOGES, DOLES, DOMES, DOPES, DOSED, DOSEH, DOSES, DOVES, DOXES, DOZES, DUCES, DUDES, DUELS, DUKES, DULES, DUNES, DUPES, DUXES, DYKES, DYNES, EBONS, ECHES, ECHOS, ECIGS, EDGES, EEVNS, EIDOS, EILDS, EISEL, ELOPS, ELSIN, ELVES, EMBUS, EMEUS, EMICS, EMMYS, EMYDS, ENEWS, ENOLS, ENOWS, ENSEW, ENSKY, EOSIN, EPEES, EPICS, EQUES, ESNES, ESSES, EUGHS, EUSOL, EVEGS, EVENS, EVILS, EXECS, EXIES, EXONS, EXPOS, EXULS, FECES, FECKS, FEEBS, FEEDS, FEELS, FEENS, FELLS, FEMES, FENDS, FENIS, FENKS, FEODS, FEUDS, FEZES, FICES, FIDES, FIEFS, FIFES, FIKES, FILES, FINES, FIVES, FIXES, FLEES, FLEGS, FLEWS, FLEYS, FLIES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FONES, FOXES, FUELS, FUMES, FUSED, FUSEL, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GECKS, GEEKS, GEEPS, GELDS, GENES, GENUS, GEUMS, GHEES, GIBES, GIVES, GLEDS, GLEES, GLEIS, GLENS, GLEYS, GLUES, GOELS, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GUDES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HECKS, HEEDS, HEELS, HEIDS, HEILS, HELES, HELLS, HELMS, HELOS, HELPS, HEMES, HEMPS, HENDS, HESPS, HEXES, HIDES, HIEMS, HIKES, HIPES, HIVES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HONES, HOPES, HOSED, HOSEL, HOSEN, HOSES, HOSEY, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HUIES, HULES, HYENS, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, ICHES, IDEES, IDLES, ILEUS, ISHES, ISLED, ISLES, ISSEI, IVIES, JEDIS, JEELS, JEEPS, JEFES, JEFFS, JEHUS, JELLS, JEONS, JESUS, JIBES, JIVES, JOBES, JOEYS, JOKES, JOLES, JONES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KECKS, KEEFS, KEEKS, KEELS, KEENS, KEEPS, KELLS, KELPS, KEMBS, KEMPS, KENOS, KEPIS, KEXES, KIBES, KIEFS, KIEVS, KIKES, KINES, KIPES, KNEES, KOELS, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEDES, LEEKS, LEEPS, LEGES, LEMES, LENDS, LENES, LENGS, LENIS, LENOS, LESBO, LESES, LESOS, LEUDS, LEVES, LEVIS, LEWIS, LEXES, LEXIS, LEZES, LIEFS, LIENS, LIEUS, LIFES, LIKES, LIMES, LINES, LIPES, LISES, LIVES, LOBES, LODES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSED, LOSEL, LOSEN, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUDES, LUGES, LUNES, LUXES, LWEIS, LYMES, LYNES, LYSED, LYSES, MEBOS, MECHS, MECKS, MEEDS, MEEPS, MEFFS, MEIDS, MEILS, MEINS, MELDS, MELES, MELLS, MELOS, MEMES, MEMOS, MENDS, MENES, MENGS, MENUS, MEOUS, MEOWS, MESEL, MESEM, MESES, MESHY, MESIC, MESON, MESYL, MEUMS, MEVES, MEWLS, MEZES, MIENS, MIKES, MILES, MIMES, MINES, MISES, MIXES, MIZES, MOBES, MODES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSED, MOSES, MOSEY, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSED, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, NECKS, NEEBS, NEEDS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEIFS, NELIS, NEMNS, NENES, NEONS, NESKI, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVES, NEVIS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NIDES, NIEFS, NIFES, NINES, NISEI, NIXES, NODES, NOELS, NOKES, NOLES, NOMES, NONES, NOSED, NOSES, NOSEY, NOXES, NOYES, NUDES, NUKES, NUSED, NUSES, OBEYS, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OKEHS, OKIES, OLEHS, OLEOS, OLPES, OMEES, OMENS, OMNES, ONCES, ONDES, ONSEN, OOSES, OOZES, OPENS, OSEYS, OUEDS, OUENS, OUSEL, OVELS, OVENS, OWIES, OWSEN, OXIES, PECHS, PECKS, PEDES, PEDIS, PEDOS, PEEKS, PEELS, PEENS, PEEPS, PEGHS, PEGOS, PEINS, PEKES, PELES, PELFS, PELLS, PELUS, PENDS, PENES, PENIS, PENKS, PEONS, PEPOS, PESCH, PESKY, PESOS, PHIES, PIEDS, PIKES, PILES, PINES, PIPES, PISES, PIXES, PIZES, PLEBS, PLEWS, PLIES, PLUES, PNEUS, POEMS, POEPS, POKES, POLES, POMES, PONES, POPES, POSED, POSES, POSEY, POXES, PSEUD, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYNES, PYXES, QUEYS, QUIES, SCEND, SCYES, SDEIN, SEBUM, SECCO, SECHS, SEDES, SEDGY, SEDUM, SEEDS, SEEDY, SEEKS, SEELD, SEELS, SEELY, SEEMS, SEEPS, SEEPY, SEGNI, SEGNO, SEGOL, SEGOS, SEIFS, SEILS, SEKOS, SELES, SELFS, SELFY, SELKY, SELLS, SEMEN, SEMES, SEMIS, SENDS, SENES, SENEX, SENGI, SENVY, SEPIC, SEPOY, SEPPO, SESEY, SEVEN, SEWED, SEWEL, SEWEN, SEWIN, SEXED, SEXES, SEYEN, SEZES, SHEDS, SHEEL, SHEEN, SHEEP, SHEIK, SHELF, SHELL, SHEND, SHENG, SHEOL, SHEWN, SHEWS, SHIED, SHIEL, SHIES, SHLEP, SHMEK, SHOED, SHOES, SICES, SIDED, SIDES, SIDEY, SIELD, SIENS, SIKES, SILED, SILEN, SILES, SILEX, SINED, SINES, SINEW, SIPED, SIPES, SISES, SIXES, SIZED, SIZEL, SIZES, SKEDS, SKEED, SKEEF, SKEEN, SKEES, SKEEV, SKEEZ, SKEGG, SKEGS, SKEIN, SKELF, SKELL, SKELM, SKELP, SKENS, SKEOS, SKEPS, SKEWS, SKIED, SKIES, SKIEY, SKYED, SKYEY, SLEBS, SLEDS, SLEEK, SLEEP, SLEWS, SLEYS, SLOES, SLUED, SLUES, SMEEK, SMEES, SMEIK, SMELL, SMEWS, SNEBS, SNECK, SNEDS, SNEED, SNEES, SNELL, SNIED, SNIES, SNOEK, SNOEP, SNYES, SOCES, SOKEN, SOKES, SOLED, SOLEI, SOLES, SONES, SOOEY, SOWED, SOXES, SPECK, SPECS, SPEED, SPEEL, SPEIL, SPEKS, SPELD, SPELK, SPELL, SPEND, SPEOS, SPEUG, SPEWS, SPEWY, SPIED, SPIEL, SPIES, SPUED, SPUES, SQUEG, SUPED, SUPES, SUSED, SUSES, SWEED, SWEEL, SWEEP, SWEES, SWELL, SWEYS, SWIES, SYCES, SYEDS, SYENS, SYKES, SYNED, SYNES, SYPED, SYPES, UNCES, UNSEW, UNSEX, UPSEY, USENS, VEEPS, VEGES, VEGOS, VEILS, VEINS, VELDS, VELES, VELLS, VENDS, VENUS, VEVES, VEXES, VIBES, VICES, VIEWS, VINES, VISED, VISES, VIVES, VLEIS, VLIES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEEDS, WEEIS, WEEKS, WEELS, WEEMS, WEENS, WEEPS, WEIDS, WEILS, WELDS, WELKS, WELLS, WEMBS, WENDS, WEXES, WHENS, WHEWS, WHEYS, WHIES, WIDES, WIELS, WIFES, WILES, WINES, WIPES, WISED, WISES, WIVES, WIZES, WUSES, WYLES, YECHS, YEDES, YEEDS, YEGGS, YELKS, YELLS, YELMS, YELPS, YESES, YESKS, YEUKS, YEVES, YEXES, YIKES, YIPES, YLEMS, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEBUS, ZEINS, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZINES, ZONES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test NIDES against the 853 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    853 before → 20 after. This feedback leaves 20 candidates.

    All 20 surviving candidates

    CLIES, EXIES, FLIES, HUIES, ICHES, ISHES, ISLES, IVIES, OKIES, OWIES, OXIES, PHIES, PLIES, QUIES, SHIES, SKIES, SPIES, SWIES, VLIES, WHIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.74. Information: 3.737 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test SOLES against the 20 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    20 before → 4 after. This feedback leaves 4 candidates.

    All 4 surviving candidates

    CLIES, FLIES, PLIES, VLIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 4.6. Information: 2.302 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CAPES against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    4 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.5. Information: 1.5 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Submit the only remaining candidate.

    1 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 5 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

Hard Mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 853 after. This feedback leaves 853 candidates.

    All 853 surviving candidates

    BECKS, BEDES, BEEFS, BEEPS, BEINS, BELLS, BENDS, BENES, BENIS, BESES, BESOM, BEZES, BHELS, BIBES, BICES, BIDES, BIKES, BILES, BINES, BISES, BIZES, BLEBS, BLEES, BLEYS, BLUES, BODES, BOEPS, BOKES, BOLES, BONES, BOSEY, BOWES, BOXES, BUDES, BUKES, BUSED, BUSES, BYDES, BYKES, CEDES, CEDIS, CEILS, CELLS, CEPES, CHEFS, CHEMS, CHEWS, CIDES, CIELS, CINES, CIVES, CLEFS, CLEGS, CLEMS, CLEWS, CLIES, CLUES, CODES, COEDS, COKES, COLES, COMES, CONES, COPES, COSEC, COSED, COSES, COSEY, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUSEC, CUZES, CYMES, DEBES, DEBUS, DECKS, DECOS, DEEDS, DEEMS, DEENS, DEEPS, DEEVS, DEFIS, DEGUS, DEIDS, DEILS, DEKES, DELES, DELFS, DELIS, DELLS, DELOS, DEMES, DEMOS, DENES, DENIS, DESEX, DESHI, DESIS, DESKS, DEVIS, DEVOS, DEXES, DEXYS, DICES, DIEBS, DIELS, DIKES, DIMES, DINES, DIVES, DOBES, DOEKS, DOGES, DOLES, DOMES, DOPES, DOSED, DOSEH, DOSES, DOVES, DOXES, DOZES, DUCES, DUDES, DUELS, DUKES, DULES, DUNES, DUPES, DUXES, DYKES, DYNES, EBONS, ECHES, ECHOS, ECIGS, EDGES, EEVNS, EIDOS, EILDS, EISEL, ELOPS, ELSIN, ELVES, EMBUS, EMEUS, EMICS, EMMYS, EMYDS, ENEWS, ENOLS, ENOWS, ENSEW, ENSKY, EOSIN, EPEES, EPICS, EQUES, ESNES, ESSES, EUGHS, EUSOL, EVEGS, EVENS, EVILS, EXECS, EXIES, EXONS, EXPOS, EXULS, FECES, FECKS, FEEBS, FEEDS, FEELS, FEENS, FELLS, FEMES, FENDS, FENIS, FENKS, FEODS, FEUDS, FEZES, FICES, FIDES, FIEFS, FIFES, FIKES, FILES, FINES, FIVES, FIXES, FLEES, FLEGS, FLEWS, FLEYS, FLIES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FONES, FOXES, FUELS, FUMES, FUSED, FUSEL, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GECKS, GEEKS, GEEPS, GELDS, GENES, GENUS, GEUMS, GHEES, GIBES, GIVES, GLEDS, GLEES, GLEIS, GLENS, GLEYS, GLUES, GOELS, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GUDES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HECKS, HEEDS, HEELS, HEIDS, HEILS, HELES, HELLS, HELMS, HELOS, HELPS, HEMES, HEMPS, HENDS, HESPS, HEXES, HIDES, HIEMS, HIKES, HIPES, HIVES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HONES, HOPES, HOSED, HOSEL, HOSEN, HOSES, HOSEY, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HUIES, HULES, HYENS, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, ICHES, IDEES, IDLES, ILEUS, ISHES, ISLED, ISLES, ISSEI, IVIES, JEDIS, JEELS, JEEPS, JEFES, JEFFS, JEHUS, JELLS, JEONS, JESUS, JIBES, JIVES, JOBES, JOEYS, JOKES, JOLES, JONES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KECKS, KEEFS, KEEKS, KEELS, KEENS, KEEPS, KELLS, KELPS, KEMBS, KEMPS, KENOS, KEPIS, KEXES, KIBES, KIEFS, KIEVS, KIKES, KINES, KIPES, KNEES, KOELS, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEDES, LEEKS, LEEPS, LEGES, LEMES, LENDS, LENES, LENGS, LENIS, LENOS, LESBO, LESES, LESOS, LEUDS, LEVES, LEVIS, LEWIS, LEXES, LEXIS, LEZES, LIEFS, LIENS, LIEUS, LIFES, LIKES, LIMES, LINES, LIPES, LISES, LIVES, LOBES, LODES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSED, LOSEL, LOSEN, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUDES, LUGES, LUNES, LUXES, LWEIS, LYMES, LYNES, LYSED, LYSES, MEBOS, MECHS, MECKS, MEEDS, MEEPS, MEFFS, MEIDS, MEILS, MEINS, MELDS, MELES, MELLS, MELOS, MEMES, MEMOS, MENDS, MENES, MENGS, MENUS, MEOUS, MEOWS, MESEL, MESEM, MESES, MESHY, MESIC, MESON, MESYL, MEUMS, MEVES, MEWLS, MEZES, MIENS, MIKES, MILES, MIMES, MINES, MISES, MIXES, MIZES, MOBES, MODES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSED, MOSES, MOSEY, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSED, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, NECKS, NEEBS, NEEDS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEIFS, NELIS, NEMNS, NENES, NEONS, NESKI, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVES, NEVIS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NIDES, NIEFS, NIFES, NINES, NISEI, NIXES, NODES, NOELS, NOKES, NOLES, NOMES, NONES, NOSED, NOSES, NOSEY, NOXES, NOYES, NUDES, NUKES, NUSED, NUSES, OBEYS, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OKEHS, OKIES, OLEHS, OLEOS, OLPES, OMEES, OMENS, OMNES, ONCES, ONDES, ONSEN, OOSES, OOZES, OPENS, OSEYS, OUEDS, OUENS, OUSEL, OVELS, OVENS, OWIES, OWSEN, OXIES, PECHS, PECKS, PEDES, PEDIS, PEDOS, PEEKS, PEELS, PEENS, PEEPS, PEGHS, PEGOS, PEINS, PEKES, PELES, PELFS, PELLS, PELUS, PENDS, PENES, PENIS, PENKS, PEONS, PEPOS, PESCH, PESKY, PESOS, PHIES, PIEDS, PIKES, PILES, PINES, PIPES, PISES, PIXES, PIZES, PLEBS, PLEWS, PLIES, PLUES, PNEUS, POEMS, POEPS, POKES, POLES, POMES, PONES, POPES, POSED, POSES, POSEY, POXES, PSEUD, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYNES, PYXES, QUEYS, QUIES, SCEND, SCYES, SDEIN, SEBUM, SECCO, SECHS, SEDES, SEDGY, SEDUM, SEEDS, SEEDY, SEEKS, SEELD, SEELS, SEELY, SEEMS, SEEPS, SEEPY, SEGNI, SEGNO, SEGOL, SEGOS, SEIFS, SEILS, SEKOS, SELES, SELFS, SELFY, SELKY, SELLS, SEMEN, SEMES, SEMIS, SENDS, SENES, SENEX, SENGI, SENVY, SEPIC, SEPOY, SEPPO, SESEY, SEVEN, SEWED, SEWEL, SEWEN, SEWIN, SEXED, SEXES, SEYEN, SEZES, SHEDS, SHEEL, SHEEN, SHEEP, SHEIK, SHELF, SHELL, SHEND, SHENG, SHEOL, SHEWN, SHEWS, SHIED, SHIEL, SHIES, SHLEP, SHMEK, SHOED, SHOES, SICES, SIDED, SIDES, SIDEY, SIELD, SIENS, SIKES, SILED, SILEN, SILES, SILEX, SINED, SINES, SINEW, SIPED, SIPES, SISES, SIXES, SIZED, SIZEL, SIZES, SKEDS, SKEED, SKEEF, SKEEN, SKEES, SKEEV, SKEEZ, SKEGG, SKEGS, SKEIN, SKELF, SKELL, SKELM, SKELP, SKENS, SKEOS, SKEPS, SKEWS, SKIED, SKIES, SKIEY, SKYED, SKYEY, SLEBS, SLEDS, SLEEK, SLEEP, SLEWS, SLEYS, SLOES, SLUED, SLUES, SMEEK, SMEES, SMEIK, SMELL, SMEWS, SNEBS, SNECK, SNEDS, SNEED, SNEES, SNELL, SNIED, SNIES, SNOEK, SNOEP, SNYES, SOCES, SOKEN, SOKES, SOLED, SOLEI, SOLES, SONES, SOOEY, SOWED, SOXES, SPECK, SPECS, SPEED, SPEEL, SPEIL, SPEKS, SPELD, SPELK, SPELL, SPEND, SPEOS, SPEUG, SPEWS, SPEWY, SPIED, SPIEL, SPIES, SPUED, SPUES, SQUEG, SUPED, SUPES, SUSED, SUSES, SWEED, SWEEL, SWEEP, SWEES, SWELL, SWEYS, SWIES, SYCES, SYEDS, SYENS, SYKES, SYNED, SYNES, SYPED, SYPES, UNCES, UNSEW, UNSEX, UPSEY, USENS, VEEPS, VEGES, VEGOS, VEILS, VEINS, VELDS, VELES, VELLS, VENDS, VENUS, VEVES, VEXES, VIBES, VICES, VIEWS, VINES, VISED, VISES, VIVES, VLEIS, VLIES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEEDS, WEEIS, WEEKS, WEELS, WEEMS, WEENS, WEEPS, WEIDS, WEILS, WELDS, WELKS, WELLS, WEMBS, WENDS, WEXES, WHENS, WHEWS, WHEYS, WHIES, WIDES, WIELS, WIFES, WILES, WINES, WIPES, WISED, WISES, WIVES, WIZES, WUSES, WYLES, YECHS, YEDES, YEEDS, YEGGS, YELKS, YELLS, YELMS, YELPS, YESES, YESKS, YEUKS, YEVES, YEXES, YIKES, YIPES, YLEMS, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEBUS, ZEINS, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZINES, ZONES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 414.45. Information: 5.74 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test NIDES against the 853 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    853 before → 20 after. This feedback leaves 20 candidates.

    All 20 surviving candidates

    CLIES, EXIES, FLIES, HUIES, ICHES, ISHES, ISLES, IVIES, OKIES, OWIES, OXIES, PHIES, PLIES, QUIES, SHIES, SKIES, SPIES, SWIES, VLIES, WHIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.74. Information: 3.737 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test ISLES against the 20 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    20 before → 4 after. This feedback leaves 4 candidates.

    All 4 surviving candidates

    CLIES, FLIES, PLIES, VLIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 5.1. Information: 2.222 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CLIES against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    4 before → 1 after. The answer is submitted and solved.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLIES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.5. Information: 0.811 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)85354
CRANE20001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)10835
SLATE12001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)4155
ADIEU00220 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)5232
STARE10001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)68965
AUDIO00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)138743
RAISE00211 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)5845
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116743
SALET10120 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)6555
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 2 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 3 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 1 · 3 guesses: 2 · 4 guesses: 1 · 5 guesses: 5 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 2–6 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

24 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include CHILE, CLIPS, SLICE, CRIES, CLUES, CITES, CLINE, CLAES, INCEL, CLIME. After their feedback, this answer is among the most likely survivors with at least half the model probability. This is an opportunity, not a guarantee. An opener that immediately solves is excluded.

Why this answer can be difficult

The worked board still allows 4 different answers at one later decision: CLIES, FLIES, PLIES, VLIES. These are mechanical alternatives, not a judgement of vocabulary difficulty.

With TARSE, this policy takes 5 guesses in normal mode and 4 in Hard Mode. These are matched simulations, not reported player averages.

Vocabulary evidence and voluntary player results are reported separately from these solver observations.

Closest competing answers in this board

These words all fit the earlier feedback, rather than merely sharing similar spelling: CLIES, FLIES, PLIES, VLIES.

A lesson from this route

Before CAPES, 4 words still fit. Its feedback left 1; check the full survivor list before choosing the next answer.

Try another opener or a different move

How this is calculated

The current policy checks all remaining candidates and up to 128 fixed probes. At six or fewer candidates it uses bounded lookahead, preferring modelled six-turn success, then speed among successes. Larger states use expected survivors as a heuristic. These are recommendations, not proofs of optimal play. Hard Mode retains green positions and revealed letter counts; it allows grey letters and a yellow in the same position. Candidate-only play is stricter.

Methods and limitations

Feedback distribution

CLIES can come back 118 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

303 answers
216 answers
155 answers
128 answers
114 answers
110 answers
98 answers
77 answers
56 answers
55 answers
53 answers
49 answers
47 answers
45 answers
45 answers
43 answers
42 answers
39 answers
36 answers
34 answers
34 answers
32 answers
29 answers
28 answers
27 answers
25 answers
23 answers
20 answers
19 answers
18 answers

Letter-value totals

Base letter-value totals for CLIES; these do not show whether either game accepts the word.

Scrabble

C3L1I1E1S1
Total: 7 points

Words With Friends

Total: 9 points

Scores shown are base values without double/triple letter or word bonuses.

Try next

MOURN TRADE ROAST OATER DROIT ATOLL

Strategy after playing CLIES

What the solver recommends next for each way the board can respond to CLIES.

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing CLIES:

13% chance
Suggested:
MOURN
9% chance
Suggested:
TRADE
6% chance
Suggested:
ROAST

Follow-ups for common patterns

Ranked follow-up guesses for the 10 most common feedback patterns.

12.7% →
MOURN 5.62 bits
9.0% →
TRADE 5.61 bits
6.5% →
ROAST 5.26 bits
5.4% →
OATER 4.29 bits
4.8% →
DROIT 5.00 bits
4.6% →
ROAST 4.86 bits
4.1% →
ATOLL 4.78 bits
3.2% →
LADLE 4.37 bits
2.3% →
TRONE 4.28 bits
2.3% →
ROANY 4.79 bits

Research on CLIES

Game-tree analysis and word research for CLIES, with an explanation for each figure.

Optimal play

Opening with CLIES, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.62 guesses and ranks #593 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.76 guesses at best and is rank #483 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.59, at or below the proven-optimal 3.62, because the two figures score different answer lists.

These figures come from exhaustive game-tree search and are exact for the NYT lists of July 2023 (3,158 answers). They do not use the site's working answer pool.

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT).