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

KAWED

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Verb

simple past and past participle of kaw

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

Use KAWED in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 90.9% of possible answers.

Open Solver with KAWED 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 KAWED performs as a guess

Wordle accepts KAWED 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 79.5% of games, misses completely in 20.5%, and leaves about 217 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #11,072 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.79 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.

K___D K in the 1st position and D in the 5th position K__E_ K in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _A__D A in the 2nd position and D in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe KAWED 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.

4.29 Entropy (bits)
217 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
90.9% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How KAWED 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.

3.79 Avg guesses
100% Solved within six
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#11,072 Rank among openers
Opening with KAWED solved every answer in the snapshot within six guesses. A spread of 0.69 means those games clustered within about 0.69 of a guess of the 3.79 average. It ranks #11,072 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
53
3 guesses
695
4 guesses
1,323
5 guesses
270
6 guesses
13

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
AE

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
80%
Green tile
29%
All gray
20%

When KAWED is useful later

KAWED tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 1 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

After SALET: 3 candidates, normal mode

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

RUBLE: 00011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

HEXYL: 02002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: DEVIL, KEVIL, MENIL.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, KAWED 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 KAWED

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 → 154 after. This feedback leaves 154 candidates.

    All 154 surviving candidates

    AAHED, BAAED, BABEL, BAGEL, BAKED, BAKEN, BALED, BANED, BAYED, CAAED, CAECA, CAGED, CAGEY, CAKED, CAKEY, CAMEL, CAMEO, CANED, CANEH, CAPED, CAPEX, CAVED, CAVEL, CAWED, DALED, DALEK, DAVEN, DAWED, DAWEN, DAZED, EAGLY, EALED, EANED, EAVED, FACED, FACEY, FADED, FAENA, FAKED, FAKEY, FAMED, FAVEL, FAXED, FAYED, FAZED, GAGED, GALEA, GALED, GAMED, GAMEY, GANEF, GANEV, GAPED, GAVEL, GAZED, HACEK, HADED, HAKEA, HALED, HAMED, HAMEL, HAVEL, HAVEN, HAWED, HAYED, HAYEY, HAZED, HAZEL, JADED, JAKEY, JALEO, JAPED, JAVEL, JAWED, KANEH, KAWED, LABEL, LACED, LACEY, LADED, LADEN, LAEVO, LAKED, LAMED, LANED, LAPEL, LAVED, LAWED, LAXED, LAYED, LAZED, MAAED, MACED, MAEDI, MAHEM, MALEO, MAMEY, MANEB, MANED, MANEH, MAVEN, MAWED, MAXED, MAYED, MAZED, MAZEL, MAZEY, NAEVI, NAIEO, NAKED, NALED, NAMED, NAPED, NAVED, NAVEL, NAVEW, OAKED, OAKEN, PACED, PACEY, PAEAN, PAEDO, PAEON, PAGED, PALEA, PALED, PANED, PANEL, PAPEY, PAVED, PAVEN, PAWED, PAYED, VADED, VANED, VAPED, WADED, WAGED, WAHEY, WAKED, WAKEN, WALED, WAMED, WANED, WANEY, WAVED, WAVEY, WAXED, WAXEN, WAYED, YAMEN, YAWED, YAWEY, ZAZEN

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test LADEN against the 154 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    154 before → 50 after. This feedback leaves 50 candidates.

    All 50 surviving candidates

    AAHED, BAAED, BAKED, BAYED, CAAED, CAGED, CAKED, CAPED, CAVED, CAWED, DAWED, DAZED, EAVED, FACED, FAKED, FAMED, FAXED, FAYED, FAZED, GAGED, GAMED, GAPED, GAZED, HAMED, HAWED, HAYED, HAZED, JAPED, JAWED, KAWED, MAAED, MACED, MAWED, MAXED, MAYED, MAZED, OAKED, PACED, PAGED, PAVED, PAWED, PAYED, VAPED, WAGED, WAKED, WAMED, WAVED, WAXED, WAYED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 29.779. Information: 2.535 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test PAWED against the 50 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    50 before → 7 after. This feedback leaves 7 candidates.

    All 7 surviving candidates

    CAWED, DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 16.803. Information: 2.052 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CAMES against the 7 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    7 before → 5 after. This feedback leaves 5 candidates.

    All 5 surviving candidates

    DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.014. Information: 1.021 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test JAWED against the 5 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    DAWED, HAWED, KAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.054. Information: 0.13 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test DAWED against the 4 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    HAWED, KAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

This policy did not solve within six guesses.

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 → 154 after. This feedback leaves 154 candidates.

    All 154 surviving candidates

    AAHED, BAAED, BABEL, BAGEL, BAKED, BAKEN, BALED, BANED, BAYED, CAAED, CAECA, CAGED, CAGEY, CAKED, CAKEY, CAMEL, CAMEO, CANED, CANEH, CAPED, CAPEX, CAVED, CAVEL, CAWED, DALED, DALEK, DAVEN, DAWED, DAWEN, DAZED, EAGLY, EALED, EANED, EAVED, FACED, FACEY, FADED, FAENA, FAKED, FAKEY, FAMED, FAVEL, FAXED, FAYED, FAZED, GAGED, GALEA, GALED, GAMED, GAMEY, GANEF, GANEV, GAPED, GAVEL, GAZED, HACEK, HADED, HAKEA, HALED, HAMED, HAMEL, HAVEL, HAVEN, HAWED, HAYED, HAYEY, HAZED, HAZEL, JADED, JAKEY, JALEO, JAPED, JAVEL, JAWED, KANEH, KAWED, LABEL, LACED, LACEY, LADED, LADEN, LAEVO, LAKED, LAMED, LANED, LAPEL, LAVED, LAWED, LAXED, LAYED, LAZED, MAAED, MACED, MAEDI, MAHEM, MALEO, MAMEY, MANEB, MANED, MANEH, MAVEN, MAWED, MAXED, MAYED, MAZED, MAZEL, MAZEY, NAEVI, NAIEO, NAKED, NALED, NAMED, NAPED, NAVED, NAVEL, NAVEW, OAKED, OAKEN, PACED, PACEY, PAEAN, PAEDO, PAEON, PAGED, PALEA, PALED, PANED, PANEL, PAPEY, PAVED, PAVEN, PAWED, PAYED, VADED, VANED, VAPED, WADED, WAGED, WAHEY, WAKED, WAKEN, WALED, WAMED, WANED, WANEY, WAVED, WAVEY, WAXED, WAXEN, WAYED, YAMEN, YAWED, YAWEY, ZAZEN

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test LADEN against the 154 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    154 before → 50 after. This feedback leaves 50 candidates.

    All 50 surviving candidates

    AAHED, BAAED, BAKED, BAYED, CAAED, CAGED, CAKED, CAPED, CAVED, CAWED, DAWED, DAZED, EAVED, FACED, FAKED, FAMED, FAXED, FAYED, FAZED, GAGED, GAMED, GAPED, GAZED, HAMED, HAWED, HAYED, HAZED, JAPED, JAWED, KAWED, MAAED, MACED, MAWED, MAXED, MAYED, MAZED, OAKED, PACED, PAGED, PAVED, PAWED, PAYED, VAPED, WAGED, WAKED, WAMED, WAVED, WAXED, WAYED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 29.779. Information: 2.535 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test PAWED against the 50 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    50 before → 7 after. This feedback leaves 7 candidates.

    All 7 surviving candidates

    CAWED, DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 16.803. Information: 2.052 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test CAWED against the 7 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    7 before → 6 after. This feedback leaves 6 candidates.

    All 6 surviving candidates

    DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.528. Information: 1.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test JAWED against the 6 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    6 before → 5 after. This feedback leaves 5 candidates.

    All 5 surviving candidates

    DAWED, HAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.089. Information: 0.154 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test DAWED against the 5 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    HAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 3.4. Information: 0.722 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

This policy did not solve within six guesses.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE02001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)154Not solved in sixNot solved in six
CRANE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)505Not solved in sixNot solved in six
SLATE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)433Not solved in sixNot solved in six
ADIEU11020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)166Not solved in sixNot solved in six
STARE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)345Not solved in sixNot solved in six
AUDIO10100 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)425Not solved in sixNot solved in six
RAISE02001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)183Not solved in sixNot solved in six
ROATE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)565Not solved in sixNot solved in six
SALET02020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)212Not solved in sixNot solved in six
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 9
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 9

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: no configuration solved within six guesses; 18 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

50 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include ASKED, KINDA, NAKED, BAKED, HAWKS, WAKES, WOKEN, FAKED, KEYED, KIWIS. 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 7 different answers at one later decision: CAWED, DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED. 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: CAWED, DAWED, HAWED, JAWED, KAWED, MAWED, YAWED.

A lesson from this route

Before CAMES, 7 words still fit. Its feedback left 5; 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

KAWED can come back 78 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

491 answers
328 answers
244 answers
170 answers
163 answers
158 answers
76 answers
65 answers
54 answers
49 answers
48 answers
45 answers
41 answers
36 answers
33 answers
27 answers
25 answers
25 answers
24 answers
24 answers
20 answers
20 answers
20 answers
17 answers
16 answers
14 answers
14 answers
9 answers
8 answers
8 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

K5A1W4E1D2
Total: 13 points

Words With Friends

Total: 13 points

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

Try next

HOIST RINSE SLART SENOR SONLY SLICK

Strategy after playing KAWED

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing KAWED:

21% chance
Suggested:
HOIST
14% chance
Suggested:
RINSE
10% chance
Suggested:
SLART

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

20.5% →
HOIST 5.90 bits
13.7% →
RINSE 5.25 bits
10.2% →
SLART 5.40 bits
7.1% →
SLART 5.31 bits
6.8% →
SENOR 4.36 bits
6.6% →
SONLY 4.54 bits
3.2% →
SLICK 4.73 bits
2.7% →
URINE 4.43 bits
2.3% →
DROIT 4.56 bits
2.0% →
WHIRL 4.40 bits

Research on KAWED

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

Optimal play

Opening with KAWED, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.76 guesses and ranks #8,579 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

No guaranteed hard-mode solve In hard mode, no strategy that opens with KAWED can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.79; proven optimal play reaches 3.76. The fixed strategy accounts for the difference.

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).