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

GUNKY

Yes, GUNKY was the Wordle answer on March 6, 2026 (Wordle #1721).

Meaning and pronunciation

Pronunciation: /ɡʌŋki/

Adjective

greasy, messy or dirty.

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

Use GUNKY in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 81.7% of possible answers.

Open Solver with GUNKY Open Word Finder

Wordle status

Answer chance: very unlikely. Roughly 0.21% within a year (about 1 in 476), 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

Yes

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

Past Wordle answer

Used once

Past Wordle answer: March 6, 2026 (#1721).

See the full page for that puzzle: March 6, 2026 (#1721).

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

Reported player results

Voluntary self-reported sample, not representative of all players. Solver scores do not measure human difficulty. Small or complementary cells stay private.

Wordle #1721 · March 6, 2026

Not enough publishable evidence yet. The minimum is 10 reports per protected group; complementary suppression can also withhold a larger group.

Methods, privacy rules and public data. You can optionally contribute a finished result below.

Wordle Observatory · optional

Played this Wordle?

Add your result to the public totals · about 20 seconds

Add your result and a quick difficulty rating to help explain how this puzzle played.

See the public data

The Observatory retains the selected puzzle, result, rating, optional Hard Mode answer and a random one-puzzle receipt. It stores no answer word, grid, guesses, account, email, IP-derived ID or reusable player identifier.

How verification and withdrawal work

The answer word and timezone are used transiently to verify this page, then discarded. The receipt prevents duplicate submissions and lets this browser withdraw later; anyone with that token can withdraw, so keep browser-data exports private. Read the full privacy details.

How GUNKY performs as a guess

GUNKY is a possible answer, so it would solve about one game in 2,391 when every answer is treated as equally likely.

Played as an opener, it lands at least one colored tile in 60.3% of games, misses completely in 39.7%, and leaves about 437 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #11,976 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.81 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.

G___Y G in the 1st position and Y in the 5th position G__K_ G in the 1st position and K in the 4th position _U__Y U in the 2nd position and Y in the 5th position GU_KY G in the 1st position, U in the 2nd position, K in the 4th position, and Y in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe GUNKY 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.

3.72 Entropy (bits)
437 Avg remaining
0.04% Exact match
81.7% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How GUNKY 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.

3.81 Avg guesses
99.92% Solved within six
0.70 Spread of game lengths
#11,976 Rank among openers
Opening with GUNKY left 2 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.70 means those games clustered within about 0.70 of a guess of the 3.81 average. It ranks #11,976 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
1
2 guesses
32
3 guesses
719
4 guesses
1,283
5 guesses
295
6 guesses
22

Composition

5/5 unique
1 vowels
Common:
NU

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
60%
Green tile
30%
All gray
40%

When GUNKY is useful later

GUNKY tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 4 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After CRANE: 3 candidates, normal mode

CRANE: 01100 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

PORTA: 10201 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

BARPS: 01211 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: SPRAD, SPRAG, SPRAY.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, GUNKY 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 SLATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

SLATE: 10100 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

RASPS: 22002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

RAWNS: 22022 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: RAINS, RANNS, RAUNS.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, GUNKY 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 ADIEU: 3 candidates, normal mode

ADIEU: 11000 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

LOADS: 00110 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

DARKY: 22000 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

DAWAH: 22010 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: DABBA, DAGGA, DAMNA.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, GUNKY 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 GUNKY

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 → 1,022 after. This feedback leaves 1,022 candidates.

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

    BICCY, BICKY, BIDDY, BIDON, BIFFO, BIFFY, BIFID, BIGGY, BIGLY, BIHON, BIJOU, BIKKY, BILBO, BILBY, BILGY, BILLY, BIMBO, BINDI, BINGO, BINGY, BINKY, BIPOD, BIPPY, BIVVY, BIZZO, BIZZY, BLIMP, BLIMY, BLIND, BLING, BLINI, BLINK, BLINY, BLOCK, BLOND, BLONX, BLOOD, BLOOK, BLOOM, BLOOP, BLOWN, BLOWY, BLUDY, BLUFF, BLUID, BLUNK, BOBBY, BOBOL, BOCCI, BODGY, BODHI, BODOH, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BOINK, BOLDO, BOLIX, BOMBO, BOMOH, BONGO, BONNY, BONUM, BOOBY, BOODY, BOOFY, BOOGY, BOOKY, BOOMY, BOONG, BOOZY, BOPPY, BOUGH, BOUND, BOVID, BOYLY, BUBBY, BUCHU, BUCKO, BUCKU, BUDDY, BUFFI, BUFFO, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMBO, BUMPH, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNCO, BUNDH, BUNDU, BUNDY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNKO, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUXOM, BUYIN, BUZZY, CHICH, CHICK, CHICO, CHIKO, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMB, CHIMO, CHIMP, CHING, CHINK, CHINO, CHIVY, CHIZZ, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOIL, CHOKO, CHOKY, CHOLI, CHOLO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, CHYND, CIBOL, CIGGY, CINCH, CIPPI, CIVIC, CIVIL, CIVVY, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOFF, CLOMB, CLOMP, CLONK, CLOOP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COBBY, COCCI, COCCO, COCKY, CODON, COGON, COHOG, COIGN, COLBY, COLIC, COLIN, COLLY, COLOG, COLON, COMBI, COMBO, COMBY, COMFY, COMIC, COMIX, COMMO, COMMY, COMPO, CONCH, CONDO, CONGO, CONIC, CONIN, CONKY, CONVO, COOCH, COOKY, COOLY, COOMB, COOMY, COPPY, COQUI, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COVIN, COXIB, COYLY, COYPU, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUDDY, CUFFO, CUING, CULCH, CULLY, CUMIN, CUNDY, CUNNY, CUPID, CUPPY, CYCLO, CYLIX, CYMOL, CYNIC, DHOBI, DHOLL, DHONI, DICKY, DIDDY, DILDO, DILLI, DILLY, DIMBO, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINIC, DINKY, DINLO, DIOCH, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DJINN, DOBBY, DODDY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOGLY, DOHYO, DOILY, DOING, DOLCI, DOLLY, DOMIC, DONKO, DONNY, DOODY, DOOKY, DOOLY, DOOMY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWLY, DOWNY, DOYLY, DUBBO, DUBBY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DUDDY, DUING, DUKUN, DULLY, DUMBO, DUMKY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DUNCH, DUNGY, DUNNO, DUNNY, DUOMI, DUOMO, DUPLY, DUPPY, DYING, DYKON, FICHU, FICIN, FIGGY, FILCH, FILII, FILLO, FILLY, FILMI, FILMY, FILON, FILUM, FINCH, FINNY, FIZZY, FLICK, FLIMP, FLING, FLOCK, FLONG, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUMP, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FLYIN, FOGGY, FOGOU, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FONDU, FONIO, FONLY, FOODY, FOUND, FUBBY, FUDDY, FUDGY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUGIO, FUGLY, FULLY, FUNDI, FUNDO, FUNDY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNIC, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZIL, FUZZY, GHOUL, GHYLL, GIBLI, GIDDY, GILLY, GILPY, GIMPY, GINCH, GINNY, GINZO, GIPON, GIPPO, GIPPY, GIZMO, GLIFF, GLOBI, GLOBY, GLOGG, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLUGG, GLUON, GLYPH, GOBBI, GOBBO, GOBBY, GODLY, GOING, GOLDY, GOLLY, GOMBO, GONCH, GONIF, GONOF, GONZO, GOOBY, GOODO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOKY, GOOLD, GOOLY, GOOMY, GOONY, GOOPY, GOPIK, GOUCH, GOYIM, GUCKY, GUGGL, GUIDO, GUILD, GUIMP, GULCH, GULFY, GULLY, GULPH, GULPY, GUMBO, GUMMI, GUMMY, GUNDI, GUNDY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GUQIN, GYNNY, GYPPO, GYPPY, HIKOI, HILCH, HILLO, HILLY, HILUM, HIMBO, HINKY, HINNY, HIPLY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOGOH, HOICK, HOING, HOKKU, HOKUM, HOLLO, HOLLY, HOLON, HONGI, HONKY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOGO, HOOKY, HOOLY, HOPPY, HOUFF, HOUGH, HOUND, HOWDY, HOWFF, HUBBY, HUDUD, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUKOU, HULKY, HULLO, HULLY, HUMIC, HUMID, HUMPH, HUMPY, HUNCH, HUNDO, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYING, HYLIC, HYOID, HYPHY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, ILIUM, IMIDO, IMINO, IMMIX, IMPLY, INBOX, INCOG, INDOL, INDOW, INFIX, INION, IODIC, IODID, IODIN, IONIC, IPPON, JIFFY, JIGGY, JIMMY, JIMPY, JINGO, JINNI, JOCKO, JOCKY, JOKOL, JOLLO, JOLLY, JOMON, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUGUM, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNCO, JUNKY, JUPON, KHOUM, KIBBI, KICKY, KIDDO, KIDDY, KIKOI, KILIG, KILIM, KIMBO, KINDY, KINGY, KININ, KINKY, KLICK, KLONG, KLOOF, KNICK, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOOP, KNOUD, KNOWD, KNOWN, KOIWI, KOKUM, KOMBI, KOMBU, KONBU, KONDO, KOOKY, KUDZU, KULFI, KWINK, KYLIN, KYLIX, KYUDO, LICHI, LIKIN, LIMBI, LIMBO, LIMBY, LINCH, LINDY, LINGO, LINGY, LININ, LINKY, LINNY, LINUM, LINUX, LIPID, LIPIN, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOCHY, LOCKY, LOCUM, LOGGY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGOI, LOGON, LOKUM, LOLLO, LOLLY, LOLOG, LOOBY, LOOKY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOPPY, LOUGH, LOUND, LOWLY, LOWND, LUCID, LUCKY, LUDIC, LUMBI, LUMMY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LUNGI, LUPIN, LUVVY, LYING, LYMPH, LYNCH, MICHI, MICKY, MIDDY, MIDGY, MIFFY, MIGOD, MILCH, MILKO, MILKY, MILLY, MIMIC, MINCY, MINDI, MINGI, MINGY, MINIM, MINNY, MINXY, MIVVY, MIXUP, MIZZY, MOBBY, MOCHI, MOCHY, MOCKY, MODII, MODIN, MODOC, MODOM, MOGGY, MOGUL, MOKKY, MOLDY, MOLLO, MOLLY, MOLOI, MOLVI, MOMMY, MONDO, MONGO, MONIC, MOOCH, MOODY, MOOLI, MOOLY, MOONG, MOONI, MOONY, MOPPY, MOUCH, MOULD, MOULY, MOUND, MUCHO, MUCIC, MUCID, MUCIN, MUCKO, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUDIF, MUDIM, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUGHO, MUGIL, MUHLY, MUJIK, MUKIM, MULCH, MUMBO, MUMMY, MUMPH, MUNCH, MUNDU, MUNGI, MUNGO, MUNGY, MUZZY, MVULI, MYOID, MYOPY, NGONI, NIBBY, NICKY, NICOL, NIFFY, NIHIL, NIMBI, NIMBY, NINNY, NINON, NIOPO, NIPPY, NMOLI, NOBBY, NOBLY, NODDY, NODUM, NOGGY, NOHOW, NOILY, NOMIC, NOMOI, NONCY, NONDO, NONIC, NONNO, NONNY, NONYL, NOOKY, NOULD, NOUNY, NOVIO, NOVUM, NUBBY, NUCIN, NUDDY, NUDGY, NUDZH, NUJOL, NULLO, NULLY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, NYING, NYLON, NYMPH, NYONG, NYUNG, OBOLI, OCULI, ODDLY, ODIUM, ODOOM, OGGIN, OGMIC, OHING, OHMIC, OKING, OLDLY, OLIGO, OLOGY, OMMIN, ONDOL, ONGON, ONION, ONIUM, ONMUN, OOMPH, OPIHI, OPING, OPIUM, OUNDY, OVOID, OVOLI, OVOLO, OWING, OWNIO, OXBOW, OXLIP, PHIZZ, PHLOX, PHONO, PHONY, PHOOH, PHOOO, PHYNX, PICCY, PICHI, PICKY, PICON, PICUL, PIGGY, PIGLY, PIGMY, PIING, PIKUL, PILCH, PILIN, PILON, PILOW, PILUM, PINCH, PINGO, PINKO, PINKY, PINNY, PINOL, PINON, PINUP, PIONY, PIPID, PIPPY, PIPUL, PIQUI, PLING, PLINK, PLOCK, PLOMB, PLONG, PLONK, PLOOK, PLOUK, PLUCK, PLUFF, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUMY, PLUNG, PLUNK, POBBY, POBOY, POCHO, POCKY, PODDY, PODGY, POGGY, POILU, POIND, POLIO, POLLO, POLLY, POLYP, POMMY, PONCY, PONDY, PONGO, PONGY, PONZU, POOCH, POOFY, POOHY, POOLY, POOPY, POOVY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUFF, POUFY, POULP, POUND, POWIN, POWND, POWNY, POYOU, POZZY, PUBBY, PUBCO, PUBIC, PUDDY, PUDGY, PUDIC, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUGIL, PULIK, PULLI, PULLY, PULMO, PULPY, PUMPY, PUNCH, PUNGI, PUNGO, PUNGY, PUNIM, PUNJI, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PUUKO, PYGMY, PYLON, PYOID, PYUFF, QUICH, QUICK, QUIFF, QUILL, QUINK, QUINO, QUIPO, QUIPU, QUOIF, QUOIN, QUOLL, QUONK, QUOUK, UDYOG, ULMIN, UNBID, UNBOX, UNCOY, UNDID, UNDUG, UNFIX, UNGOD, UNGUM, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNKID, UNLID, UNMIX, UNOLD, UNOWN, UNPIN, UNPLY, UNWON, UNZIP, UPBOW, UPFUL, VICHY, VIGIL, VILLI, VINHO, VINIC, VINNY, VINYL, VIOLD, VIVID, VODDY, VODOU, VODUN, VOICI, VOUCH, VOULU, VOZHD, VUGGY, VUGHY, VULGO, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHILK, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, WHUMP, WICKY, WIDDY, WIDOW, WIGGY, WILCO, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WINGY, WINKY, WIZZO, WODGY, WOFUL, WOLLY, WOMBY, WOMYN, WONGI, WONKY, WOODY, WOOFY, WOOLD, WOOLY, WOOPY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, WUDDY, XVIII, XYLIC, XYLOL, XYLYL, YCOND, YIPPY, YOBBO, YOBBY, YOGIC, YOGIN, YOICK, YOKUL, YOLKY, YOMIM, YONIC, YONNY, YOPPO, YOUNG, YUCCH, YUCKO, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMO, YUMMY, YUPON, YUPPY, ZHOMO, ZHUZH, ZILCH, ZIMBI, ZINCO, ZINCY, ZINGY, ZINKY, ZIPPO, ZIPPY, ZOCCO, ZOMBI, ZOOID, ZOOMY, ZOPPO, ZUZIM, ZYGON, ZYMIC

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test DOILY against the 1,022 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,022 before → 61 after. This feedback leaves 61 candidates.

    All 61 surviving candidates

    BUBBY, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUMPY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUZZY, CUBBY, CUNNY, CUPPY, FUBBY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GUCKY, GUMMY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GYNNY, GYPPY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUMPY, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYPHY, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNKY, MUCKY, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUMMY, MUNGY, MUZZY, NUBBY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, PUBBY, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUMPY, PUNGY, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPPY, PYGMY, VUGGY, VUGHY, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMY, YUPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 27.301. Information: 5.241 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BUMPY against the 61 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    61 before → 21 after. This feedback leaves 21 candidates.

    All 21 surviving candidates

    CUNNY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GUCKY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUNKY, HUZZY, JUNKY, NUNKY, NUNNY, VUGGY, VUGHY, YUCKY, YUKKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 7.175. Information: 2.485 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test FUNKY against the 21 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    GUNKY, HUNKY, JUNKY, NUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.684. Information: 1.821 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test JUNKY against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    GUNKY, HUNKY, NUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.086. Information: 0.256 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test GUNKY against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    GUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.551. Information: 0.993 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 6 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 6.

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 → 1,022 after. This feedback leaves 1,022 candidates.

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

    BICCY, BICKY, BIDDY, BIDON, BIFFO, BIFFY, BIFID, BIGGY, BIGLY, BIHON, BIJOU, BIKKY, BILBO, BILBY, BILGY, BILLY, BIMBO, BINDI, BINGO, BINGY, BINKY, BIPOD, BIPPY, BIVVY, BIZZO, BIZZY, BLIMP, BLIMY, BLIND, BLING, BLINI, BLINK, BLINY, BLOCK, BLOND, BLONX, BLOOD, BLOOK, BLOOM, BLOOP, BLOWN, BLOWY, BLUDY, BLUFF, BLUID, BLUNK, BOBBY, BOBOL, BOCCI, BODGY, BODHI, BODOH, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BOINK, BOLDO, BOLIX, BOMBO, BOMOH, BONGO, BONNY, BONUM, BOOBY, BOODY, BOOFY, BOOGY, BOOKY, BOOMY, BOONG, BOOZY, BOPPY, BOUGH, BOUND, BOVID, BOYLY, BUBBY, BUCHU, BUCKO, BUCKU, BUDDY, BUFFI, BUFFO, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMBO, BUMPH, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNCO, BUNDH, BUNDU, BUNDY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNKO, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUXOM, BUYIN, BUZZY, CHICH, CHICK, CHICO, CHIKO, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMB, CHIMO, CHIMP, CHING, CHINK, CHINO, CHIVY, CHIZZ, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOIL, CHOKO, CHOKY, CHOLI, CHOLO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CHUCK, CHUFF, CHUMP, CHUNK, CHYND, CIBOL, CIGGY, CINCH, CIPPI, CIVIC, CIVIL, CIVVY, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOFF, CLOMB, CLOMP, CLONK, CLOOP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COBBY, COCCI, COCCO, COCKY, CODON, COGON, COHOG, COIGN, COLBY, COLIC, COLIN, COLLY, COLOG, COLON, COMBI, COMBO, COMBY, COMFY, COMIC, COMIX, COMMO, COMMY, COMPO, CONCH, CONDO, CONGO, CONIC, CONIN, CONKY, CONVO, COOCH, COOKY, COOLY, COOMB, COOMY, COPPY, COQUI, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COVIN, COXIB, COYLY, COYPU, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUDDY, CUFFO, CUING, CULCH, CULLY, CUMIN, CUNDY, CUNNY, CUPID, CUPPY, CYCLO, CYLIX, CYMOL, CYNIC, DHOBI, DHOLL, DHONI, DICKY, DIDDY, DILDO, DILLI, DILLY, DIMBO, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINIC, DINKY, DINLO, DIOCH, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DJINN, DOBBY, DODDY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOGLY, DOHYO, DOILY, DOING, DOLCI, DOLLY, DOMIC, DONKO, DONNY, DOODY, DOOKY, DOOLY, DOOMY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWLY, DOWNY, DOYLY, DUBBO, DUBBY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DUDDY, DUING, DUKUN, DULLY, DUMBO, DUMKY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DUNCH, DUNGY, DUNNO, DUNNY, DUOMI, DUOMO, DUPLY, DUPPY, DYING, DYKON, FICHU, FICIN, FIGGY, FILCH, FILII, FILLO, FILLY, FILMI, FILMY, FILON, FILUM, FINCH, FINNY, FIZZY, FLICK, FLIMP, FLING, FLOCK, FLONG, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUMP, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FLYIN, FOGGY, FOGOU, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FONDU, FONIO, FONLY, FOODY, FOUND, FUBBY, FUDDY, FUDGY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUGIO, FUGLY, FULLY, FUNDI, FUNDO, FUNDY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNIC, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZIL, FUZZY, GHOUL, GHYLL, GIBLI, GIDDY, GILLY, GILPY, GIMPY, GINCH, GINNY, GINZO, GIPON, GIPPO, GIPPY, GIZMO, GLIFF, GLOBI, GLOBY, GLOGG, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLUGG, GLUON, GLYPH, GOBBI, GOBBO, GOBBY, GODLY, GOING, GOLDY, GOLLY, GOMBO, GONCH, GONIF, GONOF, GONZO, GOOBY, GOODO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOKY, GOOLD, GOOLY, GOOMY, GOONY, GOOPY, GOPIK, GOUCH, GOYIM, GUCKY, GUGGL, GUIDO, GUILD, GUIMP, GULCH, GULFY, GULLY, GULPH, GULPY, GUMBO, GUMMI, GUMMY, GUNDI, GUNDY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GUQIN, GYNNY, GYPPO, GYPPY, HIKOI, HILCH, HILLO, HILLY, HILUM, HIMBO, HINKY, HINNY, HIPLY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOGOH, HOICK, HOING, HOKKU, HOKUM, HOLLO, HOLLY, HOLON, HONGI, HONKY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOGO, HOOKY, HOOLY, HOPPY, HOUFF, HOUGH, HOUND, HOWDY, HOWFF, HUBBY, HUDUD, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUKOU, HULKY, HULLO, HULLY, HUMIC, HUMID, HUMPH, HUMPY, HUNCH, HUNDO, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYING, HYLIC, HYOID, HYPHY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, ILIUM, IMIDO, IMINO, IMMIX, IMPLY, INBOX, INCOG, INDOL, INDOW, INFIX, INION, IODIC, IODID, IODIN, IONIC, IPPON, JIFFY, JIGGY, JIMMY, JIMPY, JINGO, JINNI, JOCKO, JOCKY, JOKOL, JOLLO, JOLLY, JOMON, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUGUM, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNCO, JUNKY, JUPON, KHOUM, KIBBI, KICKY, KIDDO, KIDDY, KIKOI, KILIG, KILIM, KIMBO, KINDY, KINGY, KININ, KINKY, KLICK, KLONG, KLOOF, KNICK, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOOP, KNOUD, KNOWD, KNOWN, KOIWI, KOKUM, KOMBI, KOMBU, KONBU, KONDO, KOOKY, KUDZU, KULFI, KWINK, KYLIN, KYLIX, KYUDO, LICHI, LIKIN, LIMBI, LIMBO, LIMBY, LINCH, LINDY, LINGO, LINGY, LININ, LINKY, LINNY, LINUM, LINUX, LIPID, LIPIN, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOCHY, LOCKY, LOCUM, LOGGY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGOI, LOGON, LOKUM, LOLLO, LOLLY, LOLOG, LOOBY, LOOKY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOPPY, LOUGH, LOUND, LOWLY, LOWND, LUCID, LUCKY, LUDIC, LUMBI, LUMMY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LUNGI, LUPIN, LUVVY, LYING, LYMPH, LYNCH, MICHI, MICKY, MIDDY, MIDGY, MIFFY, MIGOD, MILCH, MILKO, MILKY, MILLY, MIMIC, MINCY, MINDI, MINGI, MINGY, MINIM, MINNY, MINXY, MIVVY, MIXUP, MIZZY, MOBBY, MOCHI, MOCHY, MOCKY, MODII, MODIN, MODOC, MODOM, MOGGY, MOGUL, MOKKY, MOLDY, MOLLO, MOLLY, MOLOI, MOLVI, MOMMY, MONDO, MONGO, MONIC, MOOCH, MOODY, MOOLI, MOOLY, MOONG, MOONI, MOONY, MOPPY, MOUCH, MOULD, MOULY, MOUND, MUCHO, MUCIC, MUCID, MUCIN, MUCKO, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUDIF, MUDIM, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUGHO, MUGIL, MUHLY, MUJIK, MUKIM, MULCH, MUMBO, MUMMY, MUMPH, MUNCH, MUNDU, MUNGI, MUNGO, MUNGY, MUZZY, MVULI, MYOID, MYOPY, NGONI, NIBBY, NICKY, NICOL, NIFFY, NIHIL, NIMBI, NIMBY, NINNY, NINON, NIOPO, NIPPY, NMOLI, NOBBY, NOBLY, NODDY, NODUM, NOGGY, NOHOW, NOILY, NOMIC, NOMOI, NONCY, NONDO, NONIC, NONNO, NONNY, NONYL, NOOKY, NOULD, NOUNY, NOVIO, NOVUM, NUBBY, NUCIN, NUDDY, NUDGY, NUDZH, NUJOL, NULLO, NULLY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, NYING, NYLON, NYMPH, NYONG, NYUNG, OBOLI, OCULI, ODDLY, ODIUM, ODOOM, OGGIN, OGMIC, OHING, OHMIC, OKING, OLDLY, OLIGO, OLOGY, OMMIN, ONDOL, ONGON, ONION, ONIUM, ONMUN, OOMPH, OPIHI, OPING, OPIUM, OUNDY, OVOID, OVOLI, OVOLO, OWING, OWNIO, OXBOW, OXLIP, PHIZZ, PHLOX, PHONO, PHONY, PHOOH, PHOOO, PHYNX, PICCY, PICHI, PICKY, PICON, PICUL, PIGGY, PIGLY, PIGMY, PIING, PIKUL, PILCH, PILIN, PILON, PILOW, PILUM, PINCH, PINGO, PINKO, PINKY, PINNY, PINOL, PINON, PINUP, PIONY, PIPID, PIPPY, PIPUL, PIQUI, PLING, PLINK, PLOCK, PLOMB, PLONG, PLONK, PLOOK, PLOUK, PLUCK, PLUFF, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUMY, PLUNG, PLUNK, POBBY, POBOY, POCHO, POCKY, PODDY, PODGY, POGGY, POILU, POIND, POLIO, POLLO, POLLY, POLYP, POMMY, PONCY, PONDY, PONGO, PONGY, PONZU, POOCH, POOFY, POOHY, POOLY, POOPY, POOVY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUFF, POUFY, POULP, POUND, POWIN, POWND, POWNY, POYOU, POZZY, PUBBY, PUBCO, PUBIC, PUDDY, PUDGY, PUDIC, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUGIL, PULIK, PULLI, PULLY, PULMO, PULPY, PUMPY, PUNCH, PUNGI, PUNGO, PUNGY, PUNIM, PUNJI, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PUUKO, PYGMY, PYLON, PYOID, PYUFF, QUICH, QUICK, QUIFF, QUILL, QUINK, QUINO, QUIPO, QUIPU, QUOIF, QUOIN, QUOLL, QUONK, QUOUK, UDYOG, ULMIN, UNBID, UNBOX, UNCOY, UNDID, UNDUG, UNFIX, UNGOD, UNGUM, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNKID, UNLID, UNMIX, UNOLD, UNOWN, UNPIN, UNPLY, UNWON, UNZIP, UPBOW, UPFUL, VICHY, VIGIL, VILLI, VINHO, VINIC, VINNY, VINYL, VIOLD, VIVID, VODDY, VODOU, VODUN, VOICI, VOUCH, VOULU, VOZHD, VUGGY, VUGHY, VULGO, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHILK, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, WHUMP, WICKY, WIDDY, WIDOW, WIGGY, WILCO, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WINGY, WINKY, WIZZO, WODGY, WOFUL, WOLLY, WOMBY, WOMYN, WONGI, WONKY, WOODY, WOOFY, WOOLD, WOOLY, WOOPY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, WUDDY, XVIII, XYLIC, XYLOL, XYLYL, YCOND, YIPPY, YOBBO, YOBBY, YOGIC, YOGIN, YOICK, YOKUL, YOLKY, YOMIM, YONIC, YONNY, YOPPO, YOUNG, YUCCH, YUCKO, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMO, YUMMY, YUPON, YUPPY, ZHOMO, ZHUZH, ZILCH, ZIMBI, ZINCO, ZINCY, ZINGY, ZINKY, ZIPPO, ZIPPY, ZOCCO, ZOMBI, ZOOID, ZOOMY, ZOPPO, ZUZIM, ZYGON, ZYMIC

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test DOILY against the 1,022 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,022 before → 61 after. This feedback leaves 61 candidates.

    All 61 surviving candidates

    BUBBY, BUFFY, BUGGY, BUMPY, BUNGY, BUNJY, BUNNY, BUPPY, BUZZY, CUBBY, CUNNY, CUPPY, FUBBY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GUCKY, GUMMY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, GUPPY, GYNNY, GYPPY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUMPY, HUNKY, HUZZY, HYPHY, JUMBY, JUMPY, JUNKY, MUCKY, MUFFY, MUGGY, MUMMY, MUNGY, MUZZY, NUBBY, NUMMY, NUNKY, NUNNY, PUBBY, PUFFY, PUGGY, PUMPY, PUNGY, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPPY, PYGMY, VUGGY, VUGHY, YUCKY, YUKKY, YUMMY, YUPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 27.301. Information: 5.241 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test BUMPY against the 61 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    61 before → 21 after. This feedback leaves 21 candidates.

    All 21 surviving candidates

    CUNNY, FUFFY, FUGGY, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GUCKY, GUNGY, GUNKY, GUNNY, HUFFY, HUGGY, HUNKY, HUZZY, JUNKY, NUNKY, NUNNY, VUGGY, VUGHY, YUCKY, YUKKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 7.175. Information: 2.485 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test FUNKY against the 21 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    GUNKY, HUNKY, JUNKY, NUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.684. Information: 1.821 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test JUNKY against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    GUNKY, HUNKY, NUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.086. Information: 0.256 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test GUNKY against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    GUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.551. Information: 0.993 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 6 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 6.

Continue this board in the Solver
Historical proven-optimal benchmark: July 2023

Alex Selby’s strategy minimises the mean over its complete 3,158-answer snapshot. A route for one answer is not proof of the shortest possible route for that answer, and is separate from the current weighted model.

Normal mode

Selby’s proven-optimal strategy. July 2023 snapshot: 3,158 equally likely answers; minimum mean guesses.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    3,158 before → 319 after. This feedback leaves 319 candidates.

    All 319 surviving candidates

    BIDDY, BILGY, BILLY, BINGO, BIPOD, BLIMP, BLIND, BLING, BLINK, BLOCK, BLOND, BLOOD, BLOOM, BLOWN, BLUFF, BOBBY, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BONGO, BONNY, BOOBY, BOOZY, BOUGH, BOUND, BUDDY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNNY, BUXOM, BUZZY, CHICK, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMP, CHINO, CHOCK, CHOMP, CHUCK, CHUMP, CHUNK, CINCH, CIVIC, CIVIL, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOMP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COCKY, COLIC, COLON, COMBO, COMFY, COMIC, CONCH, CONDO, CONIC, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COYLY, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUING, CUMIN, CUPID, CYNIC, DILLY, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINKY, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOILY, DOING, DOLLY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWNY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DULLY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DYING, FILCH, FILLY, FILMY, FINCH, FIZZY, FLICK, FLING, FLOCK, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FOGGY, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FOUND, FUDGY, FULLY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GHOUL, GIDDY, GIZMO, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLYPH, GODLY, GOING, GOLLY, GONZO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOPY, GUILD, GULCH, GULLY, GUMBO, GUMMY, GUNKY, GUPPY, HILLY, HINKY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOKUM, HOLLY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOKY, HOPPY, HOUND, HOWDY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HULKY, HUMID, HUMPH, HUNCH, HUNKY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, IMPLY, INBOX, IONIC, JIFFY, JIMMY, JOLLY, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMPY, JUNKY, KIDDO, KINKY, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOWN, KOOKY, KUDZU, LIMBO, LINGO, LIPID, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGON, LOLLY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOWLY, LUCID, LUCKY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LYING, LYMPH, MILKY, MIMIC, MINIM, MIXUP, MOCHI, MOGUL, MOLDY, MOLLY, MOMMY, MOOCH, MOODY, MOULD, MOUND, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUGGY, MULCH, MUMMY, MUNCH, NIMBY, NINNY, NIPPY, NOBLY, NYLON, NYMPH, ODDLY, ONION, OOMPH, OPIUM, OVOID, OWING, OXBOW, PHONY, PICKY, PIGGY, PINCH, PINKY, PINUP, PLINK, PLONK, PLUCK, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUNK, POLIO, POLYP, POOCH, POOFY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUND, PUBIC, PUDGY, PUFFY, PULPY, PUNCH, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PYGMY, PYLON, QUICK, QUILL, UNBOX, UNDID, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNPIN, UNZIP, VIGIL, VINYL, VIVID, VOUCH, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOP, WIDOW, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WONKY, WOODY, WOOLY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, YOUNG, YUCKY, YUMMY, ZILCH, ZIPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 100.074. Information: 5.888 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test GUILD against the 319 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    GUMBO, GUMMY, GUNKY, GUPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 12.599. Information: 5.334 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

    4 before → 2 after. This feedback leaves 2 candidates.

    All 2 surviving candidates

    GUMMY, GUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  4. Test GUMMY against the 2 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    GUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.0 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

    GUNKY

    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

Selby’s proven-optimal strategy. July 2023 snapshot: 3,158 equally likely answers; minimum mean guesses.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    3,158 before → 319 after. This feedback leaves 319 candidates.

    All 319 surviving candidates

    BIDDY, BILGY, BILLY, BINGO, BIPOD, BLIMP, BLIND, BLING, BLINK, BLOCK, BLOND, BLOOD, BLOOM, BLOWN, BLUFF, BOBBY, BOFFO, BOGGY, BOING, BONGO, BONNY, BOOBY, BOOZY, BOUGH, BOUND, BUDDY, BUGGY, BUILD, BULGY, BULKY, BULLY, BUMPY, BUNCH, BUNNY, BUXOM, BUZZY, CHICK, CHILD, CHILI, CHILL, CHIMP, CHINO, CHOCK, CHOMP, CHUCK, CHUMP, CHUNK, CINCH, CIVIC, CIVIL, CLICK, CLIFF, CLIMB, CLING, CLINK, CLOCK, CLOMP, CLOUD, CLOWN, CLUCK, CLUMP, CLUNG, CLUNK, COCKY, COLIC, COLON, COMBO, COMFY, COMIC, CONCH, CONDO, CONIC, COUCH, COUGH, COULD, COYLY, CUBBY, CUBIC, CUING, CUMIN, CUPID, CYNIC, DILLY, DIMLY, DINGO, DINGY, DINKY, DIPPY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DODGY, DOGGO, DOGGY, DOILY, DOING, DOLLY, DOOZY, DOUGH, DOWDY, DOWNY, DUCHY, DUCKY, DULLY, DUMMY, DUMPY, DYING, FILCH, FILLY, FILMY, FINCH, FIZZY, FLICK, FLING, FLOCK, FLOOD, FLOWN, FLOWY, FLUFF, FLUID, FLUKY, FLUNG, FLUNK, FLYBY, FOGGY, FOLIC, FOLIO, FOLKY, FOLLY, FOUND, FUDGY, FULLY, FUNGI, FUNGO, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GHOUL, GIDDY, GIZMO, GLOOM, GLOOP, GLOWY, GLYPH, GODLY, GOING, GOLLY, GONZO, GOODY, GOOFY, GOOPY, GUILD, GULCH, GULLY, GUMBO, GUMMY, GUNKY, GUPPY, HILLY, HINKY, HIPPO, HIPPY, HOBBY, HOKUM, HOLLY, HOOCH, HOODY, HOOKY, HOPPY, HOUND, HOWDY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HULKY, HUMID, HUMPH, HUNCH, HUNKY, ICILY, ICING, IDIOM, IDYLL, IGLOO, IMPLY, INBOX, IONIC, JIFFY, JIMMY, JOLLY, JOWLY, JUDGY, JUICY, JUMBO, JUMPY, JUNKY, KIDDO, KINKY, KNOCK, KNOLL, KNOWN, KOOKY, KUDZU, LIMBO, LINGO, LIPID, LIPPY, LIVID, LOBBY, LOGIC, LOGIN, LOGON, LOLLY, LOONY, LOOPY, LOWLY, LUCID, LUCKY, LUMPY, LUNCH, LYING, LYMPH, MILKY, MIMIC, MINIM, MIXUP, MOCHI, MOGUL, MOLDY, MOLLY, MOMMY, MOOCH, MOODY, MOULD, MOUND, MUCKY, MUDDY, MUGGY, MULCH, MUMMY, MUNCH, NIMBY, NINNY, NIPPY, NOBLY, NYLON, NYMPH, ODDLY, ONION, OOMPH, OPIUM, OVOID, OWING, OXBOW, PHONY, PICKY, PIGGY, PINCH, PINKY, PINUP, PLINK, PLONK, PLUCK, PLUMB, PLUMP, PLUNK, POLIO, POLYP, POOCH, POOFY, POPPY, POPUP, POUCH, POUND, PUBIC, PUDGY, PUFFY, PULPY, PUNCH, PUNKY, PUNNY, PUPIL, PUPPY, PYGMY, PYLON, QUICK, QUILL, UNBOX, UNDID, UNHIP, UNIFY, UNION, UNPIN, UNZIP, VIGIL, VINYL, VIVID, VOUCH, VYING, WHICH, WHIFF, WHINY, WHIZZ, WHOMP, WHOOP, WIDOW, WILLY, WIMPY, WINCH, WINDY, WONKY, WOODY, WOOLY, WOOZY, WOULD, WOUND, YOUNG, YUCKY, YUMMY, ZILCH, ZIPPY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 100.074. Information: 5.888 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  2. Test CLOMP against the 319 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    319 before → 36 after. This feedback leaves 36 candidates.

    All 36 surviving candidates

    BIDDY, BUDDY, BUGGY, BUNNY, BUZZY, DINGY, DINKY, DIVVY, DIZZY, DYING, FIZZY, FUDGY, FUNGI, FUNKY, FUNNY, FUZZY, GIDDY, GUNKY, HINKY, HUBBY, HUFFY, HUNKY, JIFFY, JUDGY, JUNKY, KINKY, KUDZU, NINNY, UNDID, UNIFY, VIVID, VYING, WHIFF, WHINY, WHIZZ, WINDY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 14.705. Information: 5.171 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test DYING against the 36 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    GUNKY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.833. Information: 4.482 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

    GUNKY

    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

Source: Alex Selby’s Wordle analysis, MIT. Licence and attribution.

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102266
CRANE00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)51066
SLATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105966
ADIEU00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)94166
STARE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102266
AUDIO02000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)615Not solved in sixNot solved in six
RAISE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)750Not solved in sixNot solved in six
ROATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)103166
SALET00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105966
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 7 · Failed in six: 2
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 7 · Failed in six: 2

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 6–6 guesses among successes; 4 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

52 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include KINGS, LUNGS, GENUS, FUNGI, GINNY, DINGY, RUNGS, GUNDY, GUNNY, KLANG. 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: GUNKY, HUNKY, JUNKY, NUNKY. 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: GUNKY, HUNKY, JUNKY, NUNKY.

A lesson from this route

Before JUNKY, 4 words still fit. Its feedback left 3; 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

GUNKY can come back 67 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

950 answers
206 answers
198 answers
153 answers
87 answers
79 answers
68 answers
67 answers
51 answers
51 answers
42 answers
39 answers
37 answers
34 answers
29 answers
20 answers
20 answers
16 answers
16 answers
15 answers
15 answers
14 answers
12 answers
12 answers
11 answers
11 answers
10 answers
9 answers
9 answers
8 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

G2U1N1K5Y4
Total: 13 points

Words With Friends

Total: 15 points

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

Try next

SATER TALER RAISE STORE CARSE RATEL

Strategy after playing GUNKY

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing GUNKY:

40% chance
Suggested:
SATER
9% chance
Suggested:
TALER
8% chance
Suggested:
RAISE

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

39.7% →
SATER 6.18 bits
8.6% →
TALER 4.98 bits
8.3% →
RAISE 5.51 bits
6.4% →
STORE 5.43 bits
3.6% →
CARSE 4.96 bits
3.3% →
RATEL 4.79 bits
2.8% →
RAILE 5.14 bits
2.8% →
CADIE 4.74 bits
2.1% →
ROUET 4.08 bits
2.1% →
IRATE 4.76 bits

Research on GUNKY

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

Optimal play

Opening with GUNKY, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.82 guesses and ranks #11,386 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.97 guesses at best and is rank #5,698 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.81, at or below the proven-optimal 3.82, 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
GUNKY 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).