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

EXFIL

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

Clipping of exfiltration (“the act of going out of a place”).

Noun

Clipping of exfiltration (“covert extraction of data”).

Verb

Clipping of exfiltrate.

Alternative forms: exfill

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

Use EXFIL in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 87.3% of possible answers.

Open Solver with EXFIL 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 EXFIL performs as a guess

Wordle accepts EXFIL 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 76.5% of games, misses completely in 23.5%, and leaves about 304 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #13,593 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.87 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.

E___L E in the 1st position and L in the 5th position E__I_ E in the 1st position and I in the 4th position _X__L X in the 2nd position and L in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe EXFIL 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.

3.84 Entropy (bits)
304 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
87.3% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How EXFIL 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.

3.87 Avg guesses
99.83% Solved within six
0.75 Spread of game lengths
#13,593 Rank among openers
Opening with EXFIL left 4 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.75 means those games clustered within about 0.75 of a guess of the 3.87 average. It ranks #13,593 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
55
3 guesses
632
4 guesses
1,247
5 guesses
388
6 guesses
28

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
EIL

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
76%
Green tile
16%
All gray
24%

When EXFIL is useful later

No standout example in the positions tested. All 108 sampled states were checked; EXFIL was legal in 54.

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 EXFIL

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 → 759 after. This feedback leaves 759 candidates.

    All 759 surviving candidates

    BEBOP, BEDEL, BEDEW, BEDIM, BEECH, BEEDI, BEEFY, BEFOG, BEGEM, BEGIN, BEGOB, BEGUM, BEGUN, BEIGY, BEING, BELCH, BELLI, BELLO, BELLY, BELON, BELOW, BEMIX, BEMUD, BENCH, BENDY, BENJI, BENNI, BENNY, BEVEL, BEVVY, BEWDY, BEWIG, BEZEL, BEZIL, BEZZY, BICEP, BIDED, BIELD, BIKED, BILED, BIPED, BLECH, BLEED, BLEEP, BLEND, BLUED, BLUEY, BODED, BOEUF, BOGEY, BOKED, BOKEH, BONED, BONEY, BOOED, BOWED, BOWEL, BOXED, BOXEN, BOYED, BOYEY, BUDED, BYDED, BYKED, CEBID, CECUM, CEDED, CEILI, CELEB, CELLI, CELLO, CELLY, CELOM, CHECK, CHEDI, CHEEB, CHEEK, CHEEP, CHELP, CHEMO, CHEVY, CHEWY, CHIEF, CHIEL, CIDED, CIMEX, CLECK, CLEEK, CLEEP, CLEIK, CLIED, CLUED, CLUEY, CODEC, CODED, CODEN, CODEX, COHEN, COKED, COKEY, COLED, COLEY, CONED, CONEX, CONEY, COOED, COOEY, COPED, COPEN, COVED, COVEN, COVEY, COWED, COXED, COYED, COZED, COZEN, COZEY, CUBEB, CUBED, CULEX, CUMEC, CUNEI, CUPEL, DEBBY, DEBEL, DEBUD, DEBUG, DECIM, DECKO, DECOY, DECYL, DEEDY, DEELY, DEFFO, DEFOG, DEGUM, DEIFY, DEIGN, DEINK, DEKED, DEKKO, DELED, DELLY, DELPH, DEMIC, DEMOB, DEMOI, DEMON, DENCH, DENIM, DEOCH, DEOXY, DEVEL, DEVIL, DEVON, DEWED, DICED, DICEY, DIKED, DIKEY, DINED, DIVED, DIVEY, DIZEN, DOGEY, DOLED, DOLEY, DOMED, DOPED, DOPEY, DOVED, DOVEN, DOWED, DOWEL, DOXED, DOYEN, DOZED, DOZEN, DUDED, DUKED, DUPED, DWEEB, DWELL, DYKED, DYKEY, DYNEL, EBBED, EBONY, EBOOK, ECHED, EDGED, EDIFY, EEVEN, EFFED, EGGED, EHING, EIKED, EIKON, EJIDO, EKING, ELBOW, ELCHI, ELDIN, ELEGY, ELEMI, ELFED, ELFIN, ELMEN, ELOGY, ELOIN, ELVEN, EMBED, EMBOG, EMBOW, EMBOX, EMEND, EMMEW, EMOJI, EMONG, ENDED, ENDEW, ENDOW, ENEMY, ENFIX, ENJOY, ENMEW, ENNOG, ENNUI, ENOKI, ENVOI, ENVOY, ENZYM, EOLID, EPHOD, EPOCH, EPOXY, EQUID, EQUIP, EUKED, EWHOW, EWKED, EXCEL, EXEEM, EXFIL, EXING, EXPEL, EYING, FEDEX, FEELY, FEIGN, FELCH, FELID, FELIX, FELLY, FELON, FEMIC, FEMMY, FENDY, FENNY, FEOFF, FEUED, FEYED, FEYLY, FEZZY, FIELD, FIEND, FIFED, FIKED, FILED, FINED, FIXED, FJELD, FLECK, FLEEK, FLEXI, FLEXO, FLIED, FLUED, FLUEY, FOEHN, FOGEY, FOLEY, FOXED, FUMED, FUZED, FYKED, GECKO, GEEKY, GELID, GELLY, GEMEL, GEMMY, GENIC, GENII, GENIN, GENIO, GENIP, GENNY, GENOM, GEOID, GIBED, GIBEL, GIMEL, GIVED, GIVEN, GLEBY, GLEED, GLEEK, GLUED, GLUEY, GOLEM, GONEF, GOOEY, GOVED, GUYED, GYBED, GYELD, GYVED, HEBEN, HEDGY, HEEDY, HEIGH, HELED, HELIO, HELIX, HELLO, HELLY, HEMIC, HEMIN, HEMPY, HENCH, HENNY, HEUCH, HEUGH, HEVEL, HEWED, HEWGH, HEXED, HEXYL, HEYED, HIDED, HIKED, HIPED, HIVED, HIZEN, HOGEN, HOHED, HOIED, HOKED, HOKEY, HOLED, HOLEY, HOMED, HOMEY, HONED, HONEY, HOOEY, HOPED, HOVED, HOVEL, HOVEN, HOXED, HOYED, HYDEL, HYLEG, HYMEN, HYPED, ICHED, IDLED, IGGED, ILEUM, IMBED, IMMEW, IMPED, IMPEL, INCEL, INDEW, INDEX, INKED, INNED, IVIED, JEBEL, JEELY, JELLO, JELLY, JEMMY, JENNY, JEWED, JEWEL, JHEEL, JIBED, JIVED, JIVEY, JOBED, JODEL, JOKED, JOKEY, JOLED, JOWED, JOYED, JUKED, JULEP, KEBOB, KEDGY, KEECH, KEENO, KELEP, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEMBO, KEMPY, KENCH, KENDO, KEVEL, KEVIL, KEYED, KIBEI, KIDEL, KIDEO, KILEY, KLIEG, KNEED, KNEEL, KNELL, KOHEN, KOPEK, KUGEL, KVELL, LEBEN, LECCY, LEDGY, LEDUM, LEECH, LEGGO, LEGGY, LEGNO, LEMED, LEMEL, LEMON, LEPID, LEUCH, LEUCO, LEUGH, LEVEL, LEVIN, LEZZO, LEZZY, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIKED, LIKEN, LIMED, LIMEN, LIMEY, LINED, LINEN, LINEY, LIVED, LIVEN, LOBED, LODEN, LOKEY, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOOEY, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOVEY, LOWED, LOWEN, LOXED, LOZEN, LUBED, LUGED, LUMEN, LUXED, MECUM, MEDIC, MEDII, MEDIN, MEECH, MEIKO, MEINY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, MELON, MEMIC, MENED, MENIL, MEVED, MEWED, MEZZO, MIEUX, MIKED, MIMED, MIMEO, MINED, MIVEY, MIXED, MIXEN, MIZEN, MOBED, MOBEY, MODEL, MODEM, MOENI, MOHEL, MOKEY, MOLED, MOLEY, MONEY, MOOED, MOOEY, MOPED, MOPEY, MOVED, MOWED, MOZED, MULED, MULEY, MUXED, NEBBY, NEBEK, NEBEL, NEDDY, NEEDY, NEELD, NEEMB, NEIGH, NELLY, NEMIC, NEVEL, NEVVY, NEWED, NEWEL, NEWLY, NEXIN, NEXUM, NICED, NICEY, NIDED, NIVEL, NIXED, NODED, NOMEN, NOVEL, NOWED, NOYED, NUEVO, NUKED, NUMEN, OBELI, OBIED, ODEON, ODEUM, OFFED, OGEED, OGLED, OHELO, OILED, OLDEN, OLEIC, OLEIN, OLEUM, OLEYL, OMDEH, OMMEL, ONELY, ONNED, OOHED, OOPED, OOZED, OUPED, OUZEL, OWLED, OWNED, OXMEN, OZEKI, PECKY, PEDON, PEEKY, PEELY, PEEOY, PEEPY, PEEVO, PEGGY, PEKID, PEKIN, PELCH, PELOG, PELON, PENDU, PENED, PENGO, PENNI, PENNY, PEONY, PEPON, PEPPY, PEQUI, PEWED, PHEON, PICEY, PIEND, PIEZO, PIKED, PIKEL, PIKEY, PILED, PILEI, PILEY, PINED, PINEY, PIPED, PIXEL, PIZED, PLECK, PLEEP, PLEIN, PLENO, PLEON, PLEXI, PLIED, PODEX, POGEY, POHED, POKED, POKEY, POLED, POLEY, PONEY, POOED, POOEY, POXED, PUKED, PUKEY, PULED, PUZEL, PWNED, PYNED, PYXED, QUECK, QUEEK, QUEEM, QUEEN, QUELL, QUEYN, QUEYU, UGGED, UMBEL, UMMED, UMPED, UNBED, UNFED, UNKED, UNKEY, UNLED, UNLEG, UNMEW, UNPEG, UNPEN, UNWED, UPEND, UPLED, UPPED, VEGGO, VEILY, VEINY, VELUM, VENDU, VENEY, VENIN, VENOM, VEXED, VEXIL, VIBED, VIBEX, VIBEY, VICED, VIDEO, VIEUX, VIEWY, VIMEN, VINED, VINEW, VIXEN, VOLED, VOWED, VOWEL, VOXEL, WEBBY, WEDEL, WEDGY, WEEDY, WEENY, WEEPY, WEIGH, WELCH, WELLY, WENCH, WENNY, WEXED, WHEEK, WHEEL, WHEEN, WHEEP, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP, WIDEN, WIELD, WIFED, WIFEY, WILED, WINED, WINEY, WIPED, WIVED, WIZEN, WOKEN, WOMEN, WOOED, WOVEN, WOWED, WOXEN, WYLED, XEBEC, XENIC, XENON, XYLEM, YCLED, YECCH, YECHY, YEEEK, YEUCH, YEUKY, YEVEN, YEWEN, YEXED, YIELD, YIKED, YODEL, YOKED, YOKEG, YOKEL, YOWED, YUKED, ZEBEC, ZEBUB, ZENDO, ZINEB, ZIZEL, ZONED, ZOOEY

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test OLDEN against the 759 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    759 before → 45 after. This feedback leaves 45 candidates.

    All 45 surviving candidates

    BELCH, BELLI, BELLY, BEZIL, CEILI, CELLI, CELLY, CHELP, EXFIL, FEELY, FELCH, FELIX, FELLY, FEYLY, GELLY, HELIX, HELLY, HEXYL, JEELY, JELLY, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEVIL, KVELL, LECCY, LEECH, LEGGY, LEUCH, LEUGH, LEZZY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, PEELY, PELCH, QUELL, VEILY, VELUM, VEXIL, WELCH, WELLY, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 32.339. Information: 4.551 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BELCH against the 45 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    45 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    EXFIL, KVELL, QUELL

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.26. Information: 2.495 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test KVELL against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    EXFIL

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.181 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

    EXFIL

    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 → 759 after. This feedback leaves 759 candidates.

    All 759 surviving candidates

    BEBOP, BEDEL, BEDEW, BEDIM, BEECH, BEEDI, BEEFY, BEFOG, BEGEM, BEGIN, BEGOB, BEGUM, BEGUN, BEIGY, BEING, BELCH, BELLI, BELLO, BELLY, BELON, BELOW, BEMIX, BEMUD, BENCH, BENDY, BENJI, BENNI, BENNY, BEVEL, BEVVY, BEWDY, BEWIG, BEZEL, BEZIL, BEZZY, BICEP, BIDED, BIELD, BIKED, BILED, BIPED, BLECH, BLEED, BLEEP, BLEND, BLUED, BLUEY, BODED, BOEUF, BOGEY, BOKED, BOKEH, BONED, BONEY, BOOED, BOWED, BOWEL, BOXED, BOXEN, BOYED, BOYEY, BUDED, BYDED, BYKED, CEBID, CECUM, CEDED, CEILI, CELEB, CELLI, CELLO, CELLY, CELOM, CHECK, CHEDI, CHEEB, CHEEK, CHEEP, CHELP, CHEMO, CHEVY, CHEWY, CHIEF, CHIEL, CIDED, CIMEX, CLECK, CLEEK, CLEEP, CLEIK, CLIED, CLUED, CLUEY, CODEC, CODED, CODEN, CODEX, COHEN, COKED, COKEY, COLED, COLEY, CONED, CONEX, CONEY, COOED, COOEY, COPED, COPEN, COVED, COVEN, COVEY, COWED, COXED, COYED, COZED, COZEN, COZEY, CUBEB, CUBED, CULEX, CUMEC, CUNEI, CUPEL, DEBBY, DEBEL, DEBUD, DEBUG, DECIM, DECKO, DECOY, DECYL, DEEDY, DEELY, DEFFO, DEFOG, DEGUM, DEIFY, DEIGN, DEINK, DEKED, DEKKO, DELED, DELLY, DELPH, DEMIC, DEMOB, DEMOI, DEMON, DENCH, DENIM, DEOCH, DEOXY, DEVEL, DEVIL, DEVON, DEWED, DICED, DICEY, DIKED, DIKEY, DINED, DIVED, DIVEY, DIZEN, DOGEY, DOLED, DOLEY, DOMED, DOPED, DOPEY, DOVED, DOVEN, DOWED, DOWEL, DOXED, DOYEN, DOZED, DOZEN, DUDED, DUKED, DUPED, DWEEB, DWELL, DYKED, DYKEY, DYNEL, EBBED, EBONY, EBOOK, ECHED, EDGED, EDIFY, EEVEN, EFFED, EGGED, EHING, EIKED, EIKON, EJIDO, EKING, ELBOW, ELCHI, ELDIN, ELEGY, ELEMI, ELFED, ELFIN, ELMEN, ELOGY, ELOIN, ELVEN, EMBED, EMBOG, EMBOW, EMBOX, EMEND, EMMEW, EMOJI, EMONG, ENDED, ENDEW, ENDOW, ENEMY, ENFIX, ENJOY, ENMEW, ENNOG, ENNUI, ENOKI, ENVOI, ENVOY, ENZYM, EOLID, EPHOD, EPOCH, EPOXY, EQUID, EQUIP, EUKED, EWHOW, EWKED, EXCEL, EXEEM, EXFIL, EXING, EXPEL, EYING, FEDEX, FEELY, FEIGN, FELCH, FELID, FELIX, FELLY, FELON, FEMIC, FEMMY, FENDY, FENNY, FEOFF, FEUED, FEYED, FEYLY, FEZZY, FIELD, FIEND, FIFED, FIKED, FILED, FINED, FIXED, FJELD, FLECK, FLEEK, FLEXI, FLEXO, FLIED, FLUED, FLUEY, FOEHN, FOGEY, FOLEY, FOXED, FUMED, FUZED, FYKED, GECKO, GEEKY, GELID, GELLY, GEMEL, GEMMY, GENIC, GENII, GENIN, GENIO, GENIP, GENNY, GENOM, GEOID, GIBED, GIBEL, GIMEL, GIVED, GIVEN, GLEBY, GLEED, GLEEK, GLUED, GLUEY, GOLEM, GONEF, GOOEY, GOVED, GUYED, GYBED, GYELD, GYVED, HEBEN, HEDGY, HEEDY, HEIGH, HELED, HELIO, HELIX, HELLO, HELLY, HEMIC, HEMIN, HEMPY, HENCH, HENNY, HEUCH, HEUGH, HEVEL, HEWED, HEWGH, HEXED, HEXYL, HEYED, HIDED, HIKED, HIPED, HIVED, HIZEN, HOGEN, HOHED, HOIED, HOKED, HOKEY, HOLED, HOLEY, HOMED, HOMEY, HONED, HONEY, HOOEY, HOPED, HOVED, HOVEL, HOVEN, HOXED, HOYED, HYDEL, HYLEG, HYMEN, HYPED, ICHED, IDLED, IGGED, ILEUM, IMBED, IMMEW, IMPED, IMPEL, INCEL, INDEW, INDEX, INKED, INNED, IVIED, JEBEL, JEELY, JELLO, JELLY, JEMMY, JENNY, JEWED, JEWEL, JHEEL, JIBED, JIVED, JIVEY, JOBED, JODEL, JOKED, JOKEY, JOLED, JOWED, JOYED, JUKED, JULEP, KEBOB, KEDGY, KEECH, KEENO, KELEP, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEMBO, KEMPY, KENCH, KENDO, KEVEL, KEVIL, KEYED, KIBEI, KIDEL, KIDEO, KILEY, KLIEG, KNEED, KNEEL, KNELL, KOHEN, KOPEK, KUGEL, KVELL, LEBEN, LECCY, LEDGY, LEDUM, LEECH, LEGGO, LEGGY, LEGNO, LEMED, LEMEL, LEMON, LEPID, LEUCH, LEUCO, LEUGH, LEVEL, LEVIN, LEZZO, LEZZY, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIKED, LIKEN, LIMED, LIMEN, LIMEY, LINED, LINEN, LINEY, LIVED, LIVEN, LOBED, LODEN, LOKEY, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOOEY, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOVEY, LOWED, LOWEN, LOXED, LOZEN, LUBED, LUGED, LUMEN, LUXED, MECUM, MEDIC, MEDII, MEDIN, MEECH, MEIKO, MEINY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, MELON, MEMIC, MENED, MENIL, MEVED, MEWED, MEZZO, MIEUX, MIKED, MIMED, MIMEO, MINED, MIVEY, MIXED, MIXEN, MIZEN, MOBED, MOBEY, MODEL, MODEM, MOENI, MOHEL, MOKEY, MOLED, MOLEY, MONEY, MOOED, MOOEY, MOPED, MOPEY, MOVED, MOWED, MOZED, MULED, MULEY, MUXED, NEBBY, NEBEK, NEBEL, NEDDY, NEEDY, NEELD, NEEMB, NEIGH, NELLY, NEMIC, NEVEL, NEVVY, NEWED, NEWEL, NEWLY, NEXIN, NEXUM, NICED, NICEY, NIDED, NIVEL, NIXED, NODED, NOMEN, NOVEL, NOWED, NOYED, NUEVO, NUKED, NUMEN, OBELI, OBIED, ODEON, ODEUM, OFFED, OGEED, OGLED, OHELO, OILED, OLDEN, OLEIC, OLEIN, OLEUM, OLEYL, OMDEH, OMMEL, ONELY, ONNED, OOHED, OOPED, OOZED, OUPED, OUZEL, OWLED, OWNED, OXMEN, OZEKI, PECKY, PEDON, PEEKY, PEELY, PEEOY, PEEPY, PEEVO, PEGGY, PEKID, PEKIN, PELCH, PELOG, PELON, PENDU, PENED, PENGO, PENNI, PENNY, PEONY, PEPON, PEPPY, PEQUI, PEWED, PHEON, PICEY, PIEND, PIEZO, PIKED, PIKEL, PIKEY, PILED, PILEI, PILEY, PINED, PINEY, PIPED, PIXEL, PIZED, PLECK, PLEEP, PLEIN, PLENO, PLEON, PLEXI, PLIED, PODEX, POGEY, POHED, POKED, POKEY, POLED, POLEY, PONEY, POOED, POOEY, POXED, PUKED, PUKEY, PULED, PUZEL, PWNED, PYNED, PYXED, QUECK, QUEEK, QUEEM, QUEEN, QUELL, QUEYN, QUEYU, UGGED, UMBEL, UMMED, UMPED, UNBED, UNFED, UNKED, UNKEY, UNLED, UNLEG, UNMEW, UNPEG, UNPEN, UNWED, UPEND, UPLED, UPPED, VEGGO, VEILY, VEINY, VELUM, VENDU, VENEY, VENIN, VENOM, VEXED, VEXIL, VIBED, VIBEX, VIBEY, VICED, VIDEO, VIEUX, VIEWY, VIMEN, VINED, VINEW, VIXEN, VOLED, VOWED, VOWEL, VOXEL, WEBBY, WEDEL, WEDGY, WEEDY, WEENY, WEEPY, WEIGH, WELCH, WELLY, WENCH, WENNY, WEXED, WHEEK, WHEEL, WHEEN, WHEEP, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP, WIDEN, WIELD, WIFED, WIFEY, WILED, WINED, WINEY, WIPED, WIVED, WIZEN, WOKEN, WOMEN, WOOED, WOVEN, WOWED, WOXEN, WYLED, XEBEC, XENIC, XENON, XYLEM, YCLED, YECCH, YECHY, YEEEK, YEUCH, YEUKY, YEVEN, YEWEN, YEXED, YIELD, YIKED, YODEL, YOKED, YOKEG, YOKEL, YOWED, YUKED, ZEBEC, ZEBUB, ZENDO, ZINEB, ZIZEL, ZONED, ZOOEY

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test OLDEN against the 759 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    759 before → 45 after. This feedback leaves 45 candidates.

    All 45 surviving candidates

    BELCH, BELLI, BELLY, BEZIL, CEILI, CELLI, CELLY, CHELP, EXFIL, FEELY, FELCH, FELIX, FELLY, FEYLY, GELLY, HELIX, HELLY, HEXYL, JEELY, JELLY, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEVIL, KVELL, LECCY, LEECH, LEGGY, LEUCH, LEUGH, LEZZY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, PEELY, PELCH, QUELL, VEILY, VELUM, VEXIL, WELCH, WELLY, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 32.339. Information: 4.551 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BELCH against the 45 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    45 before → 3 after. This feedback leaves 3 candidates.

    All 3 surviving candidates

    EXFIL, KVELL, QUELL

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.26. Information: 2.495 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test KVELL against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    EXFIL

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.181 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

    EXFIL

    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

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75955
CRANE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)143344
SLATE01001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)28355
ADIEU00110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)37754
STARE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75955
AUDIO00020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)25844
RAISE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)25644
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116755
SALET00110 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)23955
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 6 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 4 · 5 guesses: 5 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 4–5 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

69 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include FINAL, EXIST, EMAIL, AWFUL, EXILE, FELIX, PIXEL, OXIDE, FOREX, FLAIR. 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 3 different answers at one later decision: EXFIL, KVELL, QUELL. These are mechanical alternatives, not a judgement of vocabulary difficulty.

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: EXFIL, KVELL, QUELL.

A lesson from this route

Before KVELL, 3 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

EXFIL can come back 72 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

562 answers
533 answers
186 answers
177 answers
144 answers
132 answers
86 answers
50 answers
50 answers
49 answers
48 answers
35 answers
32 answers
28 answers
24 answers
23 answers
21 answers
20 answers
18 answers
17 answers
14 answers
13 answers
10 answers
9 answers
8 answers
7 answers
5 answers
4 answers
4 answers
4 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

E1X8F4I1L1
Total: 15 points

Words With Friends

Total: 16 points

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

Try next

ROAST SAREE PRINT SOAPY SALLE RINSE

Strategy after playing EXFIL

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing EXFIL:

24% chance
Suggested:
ROAST
22% chance
Suggested:
SAREE
8% chance
Suggested:
PRINT

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

23.5% →
ROAST 6.01 bits
22.3% →
SAREE 5.54 bits
7.8% →
PRINT 5.04 bits
7.4% →
SOAPY 5.05 bits
6.0% →
SALLE 4.61 bits
5.5% →
RINSE 4.75 bits
3.6% →
COAST 5.04 bits
2.1% →
BILLY 3.84 bits
2.1% →
PATEE 3.61 bits
2.0% →
SONAR 4.25 bits

Research on EXFIL

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

Optimal play

Opening with EXFIL, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.87 guesses and ranks #13,225 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.98 guesses at best and is rank #5,821 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.87, at or below the proven-optimal 3.87, 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.

Familiarity and learning

Frequency
EXFIL sits in the rare band of the wordfreq scale, appearing less than once per million words in the source corpus. Corpus frequency does not measure every reader’s familiarity.

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT); Word frequency: wordfreq (data CC BY-SA 4.0).