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

CLOUS

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

plural of clou

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

Use CLOUS in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 92.7% of possible answers.

Open Solver with CLOUS 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 CLOUS performs as a guess

Wordle accepts CLOUS 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 79.8% of games, misses completely in 20.2%, and leaves about 176 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #2,829 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.63 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__U_ C in the 1st position and U in the 4th position _L__S L in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe CLOUS 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.

4.77 Entropy (bits)
176 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
92.7% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How CLOUS 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.

3.63 Avg guesses
99.96% Solved within six
0.68 Spread of game lengths
#2,829 Rank among openers
Opening with CLOUS left 1 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.68 means those games clustered within about 0.68 of a guess of the 3.63 average. It ranks #2,829 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
53
3 guesses
962
4 guesses
1,143
5 guesses
182
6 guesses
13

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
LOSU

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
80%
Green tile
27%
All gray
20%

When CLOUS is useful later

CLOUS tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 4 of 55 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, CLOUS 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 STARE: 4 candidates, normal mode

STARE: 11020 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: TIRRS, TORRS, TOURS, TURRS.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, CLOUS 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, CLOUS 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 CLOUS

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 → 1,136 after. This feedback leaves 1,136 candidates.

    All 1,136 surviving candidates

    BIBBS, BIBIS, BIDIS, BIFFS, BIGGS, BIGOS, BILKS, BILLS, BINDS, BINGS, BINKS, BIOGS, BIONS, BISKS, BISOM, BISON, BLINS, BLIPS, BLOBS, BLOCS, BLOGS, BLOWS, BLUBS, BLUDS, BOBOS, BOCKS, BOFFS, BOGUS, BOHOS, BOILS, BOKOS, BOLDS, BOLKS, BOLLS, BOLOS, BOLUS, BOMBS, BONDS, BONGS, BONKS, BONUS, BOOBS, BOOHS, BOOKS, BOOLS, BOOMS, BOONS, BOSKS, BOSKY, BOSOM, BOSON, BOSUN, BOUKS, BOUNS, BOWLS, BOYFS, BOYGS, BOYOS, BOZOS, BUBUS, BUCKS, BUDIS, BUDOS, BUFFS, BUFOS, BUHLS, BUIKS, BUKOS, BULBS, BULKS, BULLS, BUMFS, BUMPS, BUNDS, BUNGS, BUNKS, BUNNS, BUOYS, BUSBY, BUSHY, BUSKS, BUSKY, CHIBS, CHICS, CHIKS, CHINS, CHIPS, CHIVS, CHOCS, CHOGS, CHONS, CHOPS, CHOWS, CHUBS, CHUGS, CHUMS, CILLS, CINQS, CIONS, CISCO, CLIPS, CLODS, CLOGS, CLONS, CLOPS, CLOUS, CLOWS, CLOYS, CLUBS, COBBS, COCKS, COCOS, COCUS, COFFS, COHOS, COIFS, COILS, COINS, COLDS, COLLS, COMBS, COMMS, COMPS, COMUS, CONFS, CONKS, CONNS, CONUS, COOFS, COOKS, COOLS, COOMS, COONS, COOPS, COUPS, COWKS, COWLS, COWPS, CUCKS, CUFFS, CUIFS, CULLS, CULMS, CUSHY, CUSKS, CUSPS, CUSPY, CUSUM, DHOLS, DHOWS, DIBBS, DICKS, DIDIS, DIDOS, DIFFS, DILLS, DIMPS, DINGS, DINKS, DINOS, DIOLS, DISCI, DISCO, DISCS, DISHY, DISKS, DIVIS, DIVOS, DJINS, DOCKS, DOCOS, DOCUS, DODOS, DOFFS, DOJOS, DOLLS, DOLOS, DONGS, DOOBS, DOOFS, DOOKS, DOOLS, DOOMS, DOUCS, DOUKS, DOUMS, DOUPS, DOWDS, DOWFS, DOWLS, DOWNS, DOWPS, DSOBO, DSOMO, DUCKS, DUFFS, DUFUS, DULLS, DUMBS, DUMPS, DUNGS, DUNKS, DUSKS, DUSKY, DYNOS, DZHOS, FICOS, FICUS, FIDOS, FIDUS, FIFIS, FIGOS, FILKS, FILLS, FILMS, FILOS, FINDS, FINIS, FINKS, FINOS, FIQHS, FISCS, FISHO, FISHY, FISKS, FLICS, FLIMS, FLIPS, FLOBS, FLOCS, FLOGS, FLOPS, FLOWS, FLUBS, FOCUS, FOGOS, FOHNS, FOIDS, FOILS, FOINS, FOLDS, FOLKS, FONDS, FOODS, FOOLS, FOUDS, FOULS, FOWLS, FUCKS, FUCUS, FUFFS, FUGIS, FUGUS, FUJIS, FULLS, FUNDS, FUNGS, FUNIS, FUNKS, FUSIL, FUSKS, GIBUS, GILDS, GILLS, GIMPS, GINGS, GINKS, GISMO, GISMS, GLIBS, GLIMS, GLOBS, GLOMS, GLOPS, GLOWS, GLUGS, GLUMS, GNOWS, GOBIS, GOBOS, GOFFS, GOGOS, GOJIS, GOLDS, GOLFS, GOLPS, GONGS, GONKS, GONYS, GOODS, GOOFS, GOOGS, GOOKS, GOOLS, GOONS, GOOPS, GOUKS, GOWDS, GOWFS, GOWKS, GOWLS, GOWNS, GUCKS, GUFFS, GUIDS, GULFS, GULLS, GULPS, GUMPS, GUNKS, GUSHY, GUSLI, GYMPS, GYNOS, GYPOS, HICKS, HIFIS, HIGHS, HILLS, HILUS, HINDS, HINGS, HIOIS, HOBOS, HOCKS, HOCUS, HOGGS, HOGHS, HOGOS, HOIKS, HOKIS, HOLDS, HOLKS, HOLMS, HOLOS, HOMOS, HONDS, HONGS, HONKS, HOODS, HOOFS, HOOKS, HOONS, HOOPS, HOUFS, HOWFS, HOWKS, HOWLS, HUCKS, HUFFS, HUHUS, HULKS, HULLS, HUMFS, HUMPS, HUMUS, HUNKS, HUSHY, HUSKS, HUSKY, HUSOS, HWYLS, HYMNS, HYPOS, HYSON, ICONS, IDLIS, IDOLS, IDYLS, IGLUS, IGNIS, IIWIS, IKONS, IMBOS, IMIDS, IMLIS, IMPIS, IMSHI, IMSHY, INCUS, INFOS, INSPO, JHILS, JIBBS, JIFFS, JILLS, JINGS, JINKS, JINNS, JISMS, JOCKS, JOCOS, JOHNS, JOINS, JOLLS, JOMOS, JONGS, JOOKS, JOUGS, JOUKS, JOWLS, JUCOS, JUDOS, JUJUS, JUKUS, JUMPS, JUNKS, KHUDS, KICKS, KILLS, KILNS, KILOS, KILPS, KINDS, KINGS, KINKS, KINOS, KIPPS, KIWIS, KLIKS, KNOBS, KNOPS, KNOWS, KNUBS, KOBOS, KOFFS, KOHLS, KOJIS, KOLOS, KONKS, KOOKS, KOPHS, KUDOS, KUDUS, KUFIS, KUKUS, KUMIS, KUMYS, KUNDS, KUZUS, KYBOS, KYNDS, LICKS, LIDOS, LILLS, LILOS, LIMBS, LIMNS, LIMOS, LIMPS, LINDS, LINGS, LINKS, LINNS, LINOS, LIONS, LIPOS, LISKS, LISPS, LOBOS, LOBUS, LOCHS, LOCIS, LOCKS, LOCOS, LOCUS, LOGOS, LOIDS, LOINS, LOLLS, LOLOS, LONGS, LOOFS, LOOKS, LOOMS, LOONS, LOOPS, LOUIS, LOUNS, LOUPS, LOWNS, LOWPS, LUCKS, LUDOS, LUFFS, LULLS, LULUS, LUMPS, LUNGS, LUNKS, LUPUS, LUSHY, LUSKS, LUSUS, LYSIN, LYSIS, LYSOL, MICKS, MICOS, MIDIS, MIFFS, MIGGS, MIHIS, MIKOS, MILDS, MILFS, MILKS, MILLS, MILOS, MIMIS, MINDS, MINGS, MINIS, MINKS, MINOS, MINUS, MISCH, MISDO, MISGO, MISKY, MISLS, MISOS, MIXIS, MOBOS, MOCHS, MOCKS, MOCOS, MOCUS, MODUS, MOFOS, MOGOS, MOHOS, MOILS, MOJOS, MOKIS, MOKOS, MOKUS, MOLDS, MOLLS, MOLOS, MOLYS, MOMOS, MOMUS, MONGS, MONKS, MONOS, MOOBS, MOODS, MOOKS, MOOLS, MOONS, MOOPS, MOPUS, MOSKS, MOUFS, MOULS, MOUPS, MOYLS, MOZOS, MUCKS, MUCUS, MUFFS, MUGGS, MUGOS, MUIDS, MUILS, MULLS, MUMMS, MUMPS, MUMUS, MUNDS, MUNGS, MUNIS, MUNJS, MUONS, MUSHY, MUSIC, MUSKS, MUSKY, MUSOS, MYONS, MYOPS, MYSID, MYXOS, NICKS, NIDUS, NIFFS, NIGHS, NILLS, NIMBS, NIMPS, NISIN, NISUS, NMOLS, NOCKS, NODUS, NOGGS, NOILS, NOLLS, NOLOS, NOMOS, NONGS, NONIS, NOOBS, NOOIS, NOOKS, NOONS, NOOPS, NOSHI, NOUGS, NOULS, NOUNS, NOUPS, NOWDS, NOWLS, NUFFS, NULLS, NUMBS, NUMPS, NUNKS, NUNUS, OBBOS, OBOLS, ODUMS, ODYLS, OICKS, OINKS, OLIOS, OMBUS, OMOVS, OMULS, ONCUS, ONKUS, OOIDS, OPPOS, OPSIN, OSKIN, OSLIN, OSMIC, OSMOL, OULKS, OUPHS, OUZOS, OXIDS, OXIMS, PHONS, PHUBS, PICKS, PIKIS, PILIS, PILLS, PILUS, PIMPS, PINDS, PINGS, PINKS, PIONS, PIOUS, PIOYS, PIPIS, PISCO, PISKY, PISOS, PIUMS, PIVOS, PLIGS, PLIMS, PLIPS, PLODS, PLOPS, PLOWS, PLOYS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUMS, PLUPS, POCKS, PODOS, PODUS, POGOS, POLIS, POLKS, POLLS, POLOS, POLYS, POMOS, POMPS, PONDS, PONGS, PONKS, POODS, POOFS, POOHS, POOKS, POOLS, POONS, POOPS, POPOS, POSHO, POSOL, POUFS, POUIS, POUKS, POVOS, POWIS, POWNS, PSION, PSYCH, PSYOP, PUBIS, PUCKS, PUDUS, PUFFS, PUKUS, PULIS, PULKS, PULLS, PULPS, PULUS, PUMPS, PUNGS, PUNKS, PUPUS, PUSHY, PYINS, PYXIS, QOPHS, QUIBS, QUIDS, QUIMS, QUINS, QUIPS, QUODS, QUOIS, QUOPS, QUOYS, SCHIF, SCHMO, SCHUL, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SCLIM, SCODY, SCOFF, SCOGS, SCOLD, SCOOG, SCOOP, SCOPS, SCOUG, SCOUP, SCOWL, SCOWP, SCOWS, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUDS, SCUFF, SCUGS, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCULS, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCUZZ, SHCHI, SHILL, SHILY, SHIMS, SHINS, SHINY, SHIOK, SHIPS, SHIVS, SHLUB, SHOCK, SHOGI, SHOGS, SHOJI, SHOJO, SHONK, SHOOK, SHOOL, SHOON, SHOOS, SHOPS, SHOUD, SHOWD, SHOWN, SHOWS, SHOWY, SHOYU, SHUCK, SHULN, SHULS, SHUNS, SHYLY, SIBBS, SIBYL, SICKO, SICKS, SICKY, SIGHS, SIGIL, SIGNS, SIJOS, SILDS, SILKS, SILKY, SILLS, SILLY, SILOS, SIMIS, SIMPS, SIMUL, SINDS, SINGS, SINHS, SINKS, SINKY, SINUS, SIPPY, SIXMO, SKIDS, SKIFF, SKILL, SKIMO, SKIMP, SKIMS, SKINK, SKINS, SKIOS, SKIPS, SKIVY, SKLIM, SKODY, SKOFF, SKOFS, SKOGS, SKOLS, SKOOL, SKUGS, SKULK, SKULL, SKUNK, SKYFS, SLICK, SLILY, SLIMS, SLIMY, SLING, SLINK, SLIPS, SLOBS, SLOGS, SLOID, SLOJD, SLOMO, SLOOM, SLOOP, SLOPS, SLOPY, SLOWS, SLOYD, SLUBB, SLUBS, SLUFF, SLUGS, SLUMP, SLUMS, SLUNG, SLUNK, SLYLY, SMICK, SMILY, SMOCK, SMOGS, SMOKO, SMOKY, SMUGS, SNIBS, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIGS, SNIPS, SNIPY, SNOBS, SNODS, SNOGS, SNOOD, SNOOK, SNOOL, SNOOP, SNOWK, SNOWS, SNOWY, SNUBS, SNUCK, SNUFF, SNUGS, SOCKO, SOCKS, SODDY, SODIC, SODOM, SOGGY, SOILS, SOILY, SOJUS, SOKOL, SOLDI, SOLDO, SOLDS, SOLID, SOLON, SOLOS, SOLUM, SOLUS, SONGO, SONGS, SONGY, SONIC, SONLY, SONNY, SOOKS, SOOKY, SOOLS, SOOMS, SOOPS, SOPHS, SOPHY, SOPPY, SOUGH, SOUKS, SOULS, SOULY, SOUMS, SOUND, SOUPS, SOUPY, SOWFF, SOWFS, SOWLS, SOWMS, SOWND, SOWPS, SOYUZ, SOZIN, SPICK, SPICS, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIFS, SPIKS, SPIKY, SPILL, SPIMS, SPINK, SPINS, SPINY, SPIVS, SPLOG, SPODS, SPOIL, SPOOF, SPOOK, SPOOL, SPOOM, SPOON, SPUDS, SPUGS, SPUMY, SPUNK, SQUIB, SQUID, SQUIZ, SUBBY, SUCCI, SUCKS, SUCKY, SUDDS, SUGHS, SUGOS, SUIDS, SUING, SUKHS, SUKIS, SUKUK, SULCI, SULFO, SULKS, SULKY, SULLS, SULLY, SULPH, SULUS, SUMIS, SUMOS, SUMPH, SUMPS, SUNIS, SUNKS, SUNNS, SUNNY, SUNUP, SUSHI, SUSUS, SWIGS, SWILL, SWIMS, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ, SWOBS, SWOLL, SWOLN, SWOON, SWOOP, SWOPS, SWOUN, SWUNG, SYBIL, SYBOW, SYCON, SYLIS, SYLPH, SYNCH, SYNCS, SYNDS, SYNOD, SYPHS, SYSOP, UDONS, ULMOS, UMBOS, UMPHS, UNCOS, UNCUS, UNDOS, UNIOS, UNSOD, UNSUB, UPDOS, USING, USNIC, VICUS, VIFFS, VILLS, VINOS, VIOLS, VISON, VIVOS, VLOGS, VOIDS, VOIPS, VOLKS, VUGGS, VUGHS, VULNS, WHIDS, WHIGS, WHIMS, WHINS, WHIOS, WHIPS, WHOPS, WHOWS, WHUPS, WICKS, WIKIS, WILDS, WILIS, WILLS, WIMPS, WINDS, WINGS, WINKS, WINNS, WINOS, WISPS, WISPY, WOCKS, WOJUS, WOLDS, WOLFS, WOMBS, WONKS, WOODS, WOOFS, WOOLS, WOONS, WOOPS, WUDUS, WUFFS, WULLS, WUSHU, WYNDS, WYNNS, XOLOS, YILLS, YLIDS, YOCKS, YODHS, YOGHS, YOGIS, YOLKS, YOLPS, YOMPS, YONIS, YONKS, YOOFS, YOOPS, YOPOS, YOUKS, YOWLS, YOYOS, YUCKS, YUKOS, YUMPS, YUZUS, ZIFFS, ZILLS, ZIMBS, ZINCS, ZINGS, ZINOS, ZOBOS, ZOBUS, ZONKS, ZOOKS, ZOOMS, ZOONS, ZOUKS, ZULUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test MUILS against the 1,136 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,136 before → 17 after. This feedback leaves 17 candidates.

    All 17 surviving candidates

    BLUBS, BLUDS, BOLUS, CLOUS, CLUBS, FLUBS, GLUGS, LOBUS, LOCUS, LOUNS, LOUPS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUPS, SLUBS, SLUGS, SOLUS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 20.33. Information: 4.339 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BLUDS against the 17 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLOUS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.107. Information: 0.638 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLOUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

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 → 1,136 after. This feedback leaves 1,136 candidates.

    All 1,136 surviving candidates

    BIBBS, BIBIS, BIDIS, BIFFS, BIGGS, BIGOS, BILKS, BILLS, BINDS, BINGS, BINKS, BIOGS, BIONS, BISKS, BISOM, BISON, BLINS, BLIPS, BLOBS, BLOCS, BLOGS, BLOWS, BLUBS, BLUDS, BOBOS, BOCKS, BOFFS, BOGUS, BOHOS, BOILS, BOKOS, BOLDS, BOLKS, BOLLS, BOLOS, BOLUS, BOMBS, BONDS, BONGS, BONKS, BONUS, BOOBS, BOOHS, BOOKS, BOOLS, BOOMS, BOONS, BOSKS, BOSKY, BOSOM, BOSON, BOSUN, BOUKS, BOUNS, BOWLS, BOYFS, BOYGS, BOYOS, BOZOS, BUBUS, BUCKS, BUDIS, BUDOS, BUFFS, BUFOS, BUHLS, BUIKS, BUKOS, BULBS, BULKS, BULLS, BUMFS, BUMPS, BUNDS, BUNGS, BUNKS, BUNNS, BUOYS, BUSBY, BUSHY, BUSKS, BUSKY, CHIBS, CHICS, CHIKS, CHINS, CHIPS, CHIVS, CHOCS, CHOGS, CHONS, CHOPS, CHOWS, CHUBS, CHUGS, CHUMS, CILLS, CINQS, CIONS, CISCO, CLIPS, CLODS, CLOGS, CLONS, CLOPS, CLOUS, CLOWS, CLOYS, CLUBS, COBBS, COCKS, COCOS, COCUS, COFFS, COHOS, COIFS, COILS, COINS, COLDS, COLLS, COMBS, COMMS, COMPS, COMUS, CONFS, CONKS, CONNS, CONUS, COOFS, COOKS, COOLS, COOMS, COONS, COOPS, COUPS, COWKS, COWLS, COWPS, CUCKS, CUFFS, CUIFS, CULLS, CULMS, CUSHY, CUSKS, CUSPS, CUSPY, CUSUM, DHOLS, DHOWS, DIBBS, DICKS, DIDIS, DIDOS, DIFFS, DILLS, DIMPS, DINGS, DINKS, DINOS, DIOLS, DISCI, DISCO, DISCS, DISHY, DISKS, DIVIS, DIVOS, DJINS, DOCKS, DOCOS, DOCUS, DODOS, DOFFS, DOJOS, DOLLS, DOLOS, DONGS, DOOBS, DOOFS, DOOKS, DOOLS, DOOMS, DOUCS, DOUKS, DOUMS, DOUPS, DOWDS, DOWFS, DOWLS, DOWNS, DOWPS, DSOBO, DSOMO, DUCKS, DUFFS, DUFUS, DULLS, DUMBS, DUMPS, DUNGS, DUNKS, DUSKS, DUSKY, DYNOS, DZHOS, FICOS, FICUS, FIDOS, FIDUS, FIFIS, FIGOS, FILKS, FILLS, FILMS, FILOS, FINDS, FINIS, FINKS, FINOS, FIQHS, FISCS, FISHO, FISHY, FISKS, FLICS, FLIMS, FLIPS, FLOBS, FLOCS, FLOGS, FLOPS, FLOWS, FLUBS, FOCUS, FOGOS, FOHNS, FOIDS, FOILS, FOINS, FOLDS, FOLKS, FONDS, FOODS, FOOLS, FOUDS, FOULS, FOWLS, FUCKS, FUCUS, FUFFS, FUGIS, FUGUS, FUJIS, FULLS, FUNDS, FUNGS, FUNIS, FUNKS, FUSIL, FUSKS, GIBUS, GILDS, GILLS, GIMPS, GINGS, GINKS, GISMO, GISMS, GLIBS, GLIMS, GLOBS, GLOMS, GLOPS, GLOWS, GLUGS, GLUMS, GNOWS, GOBIS, GOBOS, GOFFS, GOGOS, GOJIS, GOLDS, GOLFS, GOLPS, GONGS, GONKS, GONYS, GOODS, GOOFS, GOOGS, GOOKS, GOOLS, GOONS, GOOPS, GOUKS, GOWDS, GOWFS, GOWKS, GOWLS, GOWNS, GUCKS, GUFFS, GUIDS, GULFS, GULLS, GULPS, GUMPS, GUNKS, GUSHY, GUSLI, GYMPS, GYNOS, GYPOS, HICKS, HIFIS, HIGHS, HILLS, HILUS, HINDS, HINGS, HIOIS, HOBOS, HOCKS, HOCUS, HOGGS, HOGHS, HOGOS, HOIKS, HOKIS, HOLDS, HOLKS, HOLMS, HOLOS, HOMOS, HONDS, HONGS, HONKS, HOODS, HOOFS, HOOKS, HOONS, HOOPS, HOUFS, HOWFS, HOWKS, HOWLS, HUCKS, HUFFS, HUHUS, HULKS, HULLS, HUMFS, HUMPS, HUMUS, HUNKS, HUSHY, HUSKS, HUSKY, HUSOS, HWYLS, HYMNS, HYPOS, HYSON, ICONS, IDLIS, IDOLS, IDYLS, IGLUS, IGNIS, IIWIS, IKONS, IMBOS, IMIDS, IMLIS, IMPIS, IMSHI, IMSHY, INCUS, INFOS, INSPO, JHILS, JIBBS, JIFFS, JILLS, JINGS, JINKS, JINNS, JISMS, JOCKS, JOCOS, JOHNS, JOINS, JOLLS, JOMOS, JONGS, JOOKS, JOUGS, JOUKS, JOWLS, JUCOS, JUDOS, JUJUS, JUKUS, JUMPS, JUNKS, KHUDS, KICKS, KILLS, KILNS, KILOS, KILPS, KINDS, KINGS, KINKS, KINOS, KIPPS, KIWIS, KLIKS, KNOBS, KNOPS, KNOWS, KNUBS, KOBOS, KOFFS, KOHLS, KOJIS, KOLOS, KONKS, KOOKS, KOPHS, KUDOS, KUDUS, KUFIS, KUKUS, KUMIS, KUMYS, KUNDS, KUZUS, KYBOS, KYNDS, LICKS, LIDOS, LILLS, LILOS, LIMBS, LIMNS, LIMOS, LIMPS, LINDS, LINGS, LINKS, LINNS, LINOS, LIONS, LIPOS, LISKS, LISPS, LOBOS, LOBUS, LOCHS, LOCIS, LOCKS, LOCOS, LOCUS, LOGOS, LOIDS, LOINS, LOLLS, LOLOS, LONGS, LOOFS, LOOKS, LOOMS, LOONS, LOOPS, LOUIS, LOUNS, LOUPS, LOWNS, LOWPS, LUCKS, LUDOS, LUFFS, LULLS, LULUS, LUMPS, LUNGS, LUNKS, LUPUS, LUSHY, LUSKS, LUSUS, LYSIN, LYSIS, LYSOL, MICKS, MICOS, MIDIS, MIFFS, MIGGS, MIHIS, MIKOS, MILDS, MILFS, MILKS, MILLS, MILOS, MIMIS, MINDS, MINGS, MINIS, MINKS, MINOS, MINUS, MISCH, MISDO, MISGO, MISKY, MISLS, MISOS, MIXIS, MOBOS, MOCHS, MOCKS, MOCOS, MOCUS, MODUS, MOFOS, MOGOS, MOHOS, MOILS, MOJOS, MOKIS, MOKOS, MOKUS, MOLDS, MOLLS, MOLOS, MOLYS, MOMOS, MOMUS, MONGS, MONKS, MONOS, MOOBS, MOODS, MOOKS, MOOLS, MOONS, MOOPS, MOPUS, MOSKS, MOUFS, MOULS, MOUPS, MOYLS, MOZOS, MUCKS, MUCUS, MUFFS, MUGGS, MUGOS, MUIDS, MUILS, MULLS, MUMMS, MUMPS, MUMUS, MUNDS, MUNGS, MUNIS, MUNJS, MUONS, MUSHY, MUSIC, MUSKS, MUSKY, MUSOS, MYONS, MYOPS, MYSID, MYXOS, NICKS, NIDUS, NIFFS, NIGHS, NILLS, NIMBS, NIMPS, NISIN, NISUS, NMOLS, NOCKS, NODUS, NOGGS, NOILS, NOLLS, NOLOS, NOMOS, NONGS, NONIS, NOOBS, NOOIS, NOOKS, NOONS, NOOPS, NOSHI, NOUGS, NOULS, NOUNS, NOUPS, NOWDS, NOWLS, NUFFS, NULLS, NUMBS, NUMPS, NUNKS, NUNUS, OBBOS, OBOLS, ODUMS, ODYLS, OICKS, OINKS, OLIOS, OMBUS, OMOVS, OMULS, ONCUS, ONKUS, OOIDS, OPPOS, OPSIN, OSKIN, OSLIN, OSMIC, OSMOL, OULKS, OUPHS, OUZOS, OXIDS, OXIMS, PHONS, PHUBS, PICKS, PIKIS, PILIS, PILLS, PILUS, PIMPS, PINDS, PINGS, PINKS, PIONS, PIOUS, PIOYS, PIPIS, PISCO, PISKY, PISOS, PIUMS, PIVOS, PLIGS, PLIMS, PLIPS, PLODS, PLOPS, PLOWS, PLOYS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUMS, PLUPS, POCKS, PODOS, PODUS, POGOS, POLIS, POLKS, POLLS, POLOS, POLYS, POMOS, POMPS, PONDS, PONGS, PONKS, POODS, POOFS, POOHS, POOKS, POOLS, POONS, POOPS, POPOS, POSHO, POSOL, POUFS, POUIS, POUKS, POVOS, POWIS, POWNS, PSION, PSYCH, PSYOP, PUBIS, PUCKS, PUDUS, PUFFS, PUKUS, PULIS, PULKS, PULLS, PULPS, PULUS, PUMPS, PUNGS, PUNKS, PUPUS, PUSHY, PYINS, PYXIS, QOPHS, QUIBS, QUIDS, QUIMS, QUINS, QUIPS, QUODS, QUOIS, QUOPS, QUOYS, SCHIF, SCHMO, SCHUL, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SCLIM, SCODY, SCOFF, SCOGS, SCOLD, SCOOG, SCOOP, SCOPS, SCOUG, SCOUP, SCOWL, SCOWP, SCOWS, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUDS, SCUFF, SCUGS, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCULS, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCUZZ, SHCHI, SHILL, SHILY, SHIMS, SHINS, SHINY, SHIOK, SHIPS, SHIVS, SHLUB, SHOCK, SHOGI, SHOGS, SHOJI, SHOJO, SHONK, SHOOK, SHOOL, SHOON, SHOOS, SHOPS, SHOUD, SHOWD, SHOWN, SHOWS, SHOWY, SHOYU, SHUCK, SHULN, SHULS, SHUNS, SHYLY, SIBBS, SIBYL, SICKO, SICKS, SICKY, SIGHS, SIGIL, SIGNS, SIJOS, SILDS, SILKS, SILKY, SILLS, SILLY, SILOS, SIMIS, SIMPS, SIMUL, SINDS, SINGS, SINHS, SINKS, SINKY, SINUS, SIPPY, SIXMO, SKIDS, SKIFF, SKILL, SKIMO, SKIMP, SKIMS, SKINK, SKINS, SKIOS, SKIPS, SKIVY, SKLIM, SKODY, SKOFF, SKOFS, SKOGS, SKOLS, SKOOL, SKUGS, SKULK, SKULL, SKUNK, SKYFS, SLICK, SLILY, SLIMS, SLIMY, SLING, SLINK, SLIPS, SLOBS, SLOGS, SLOID, SLOJD, SLOMO, SLOOM, SLOOP, SLOPS, SLOPY, SLOWS, SLOYD, SLUBB, SLUBS, SLUFF, SLUGS, SLUMP, SLUMS, SLUNG, SLUNK, SLYLY, SMICK, SMILY, SMOCK, SMOGS, SMOKO, SMOKY, SMUGS, SNIBS, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIGS, SNIPS, SNIPY, SNOBS, SNODS, SNOGS, SNOOD, SNOOK, SNOOL, SNOOP, SNOWK, SNOWS, SNOWY, SNUBS, SNUCK, SNUFF, SNUGS, SOCKO, SOCKS, SODDY, SODIC, SODOM, SOGGY, SOILS, SOILY, SOJUS, SOKOL, SOLDI, SOLDO, SOLDS, SOLID, SOLON, SOLOS, SOLUM, SOLUS, SONGO, SONGS, SONGY, SONIC, SONLY, SONNY, SOOKS, SOOKY, SOOLS, SOOMS, SOOPS, SOPHS, SOPHY, SOPPY, SOUGH, SOUKS, SOULS, SOULY, SOUMS, SOUND, SOUPS, SOUPY, SOWFF, SOWFS, SOWLS, SOWMS, SOWND, SOWPS, SOYUZ, SOZIN, SPICK, SPICS, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIFS, SPIKS, SPIKY, SPILL, SPIMS, SPINK, SPINS, SPINY, SPIVS, SPLOG, SPODS, SPOIL, SPOOF, SPOOK, SPOOL, SPOOM, SPOON, SPUDS, SPUGS, SPUMY, SPUNK, SQUIB, SQUID, SQUIZ, SUBBY, SUCCI, SUCKS, SUCKY, SUDDS, SUGHS, SUGOS, SUIDS, SUING, SUKHS, SUKIS, SUKUK, SULCI, SULFO, SULKS, SULKY, SULLS, SULLY, SULPH, SULUS, SUMIS, SUMOS, SUMPH, SUMPS, SUNIS, SUNKS, SUNNS, SUNNY, SUNUP, SUSHI, SUSUS, SWIGS, SWILL, SWIMS, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ, SWOBS, SWOLL, SWOLN, SWOON, SWOOP, SWOPS, SWOUN, SWUNG, SYBIL, SYBOW, SYCON, SYLIS, SYLPH, SYNCH, SYNCS, SYNDS, SYNOD, SYPHS, SYSOP, UDONS, ULMOS, UMBOS, UMPHS, UNCOS, UNCUS, UNDOS, UNIOS, UNSOD, UNSUB, UPDOS, USING, USNIC, VICUS, VIFFS, VILLS, VINOS, VIOLS, VISON, VIVOS, VLOGS, VOIDS, VOIPS, VOLKS, VUGGS, VUGHS, VULNS, WHIDS, WHIGS, WHIMS, WHINS, WHIOS, WHIPS, WHOPS, WHOWS, WHUPS, WICKS, WIKIS, WILDS, WILIS, WILLS, WIMPS, WINDS, WINGS, WINKS, WINNS, WINOS, WISPS, WISPY, WOCKS, WOJUS, WOLDS, WOLFS, WOMBS, WONKS, WOODS, WOOFS, WOOLS, WOONS, WOOPS, WUDUS, WUFFS, WULLS, WUSHU, WYNDS, WYNNS, XOLOS, YILLS, YLIDS, YOCKS, YODHS, YOGHS, YOGIS, YOLKS, YOLPS, YOMPS, YONIS, YONKS, YOOFS, YOOPS, YOPOS, YOUKS, YOWLS, YOYOS, YUCKS, YUKOS, YUMPS, YUZUS, ZIFFS, ZILLS, ZIMBS, ZINCS, ZINGS, ZINOS, ZOBOS, ZOBUS, ZONKS, ZOOKS, ZOOMS, ZOONS, ZOUKS, ZULUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test MUILS against the 1,136 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,136 before → 17 after. This feedback leaves 17 candidates.

    All 17 surviving candidates

    BLUBS, BLUDS, BOLUS, CLOUS, CLUBS, FLUBS, GLUGS, LOBUS, LOCUS, LOUNS, LOUPS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUPS, SLUBS, SLUGS, SOLUS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 20.33. Information: 4.339 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BLUDS against the 17 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLOUS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.107. Information: 0.638 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    CLOUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)113644
CRANE20000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)18533
SLATE12000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)6333
ADIEU00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)94144
STARE10000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)91244
AUDIO01001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)28433
RAISE00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)95233
ROATE01000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)50466
SALET10100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)18766
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 4 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 2 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 4 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 2 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 3–6 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

28 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include FOCUS, CLUBS, SCOUT, CLUES, LOTUS, LOCUS, SCOUR, COUPS, BOLUS, COURS. 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.

A lesson from this route

This route identifies the answer on turn 3. Identifying a unique candidate and submitting it are separate actions.

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

CLOUS can come back 100 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

482 answers
234 answers
190 answers
181 answers
112 answers
94 answers
85 answers
69 answers
68 answers
65 answers
64 answers
57 answers
52 answers
44 answers
41 answers
39 answers
25 answers
25 answers
24 answers
24 answers
22 answers
21 answers
20 answers
18 answers
15 answers
15 answers
15 answers
12 answers
12 answers
12 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

C3L1O1U1S1
Total: 7 points

Words With Friends

Total: 10 points

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

Try next

TIARE PEART RAILE RONTE PRATE BRANE

Strategy after playing CLOUS

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing CLOUS:

20% chance
Suggested:
TIARE
10% chance
Suggested:
PEART
8% chance
Suggested:
RAILE

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

20.2% →
TIARE 6.15 bits
9.8% →
PEART 5.78 bits
7.9% →
RAILE 5.25 bits
7.6% →
RONTE 5.42 bits
4.7% →
PRATE 4.90 bits
3.9% →
TIARE 5.30 bits
3.6% →
BRANE 4.69 bits
2.9% →
BRANE 4.68 bits
2.8% →
IRATE 5.14 bits
2.7% →
SHART 4.33 bits

Research on CLOUS

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

Optimal play

Opening with CLOUS, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.68 guesses and ranks #3,173 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.80 guesses at best and is rank #1,323 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.63, at or below the proven-optimal 3.68, 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).