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

KILEY

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

Archaic form of kylie (“boomerang”).

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

How it sounds

Two syllables, stress on the first syllable Say it KYLEE.

Rhymes with RILEY KYLIE SLYLY SHYLY WRYLY

Related meanings by dictionary sense

noun

an Australian boomerang; one side flat and the other convex

Synonyms for this sense: kylie.

Open English WordNet, 2025 edition, CC BY 4.0. Source dictionary. Senses are kept separate; no puzzle appearance is assigned to a meaning without evidence.

Use KILEY in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 93.0% of possible answers.

Open Solver with KILEY 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 KILEY performs as a guess

Wordle accepts KILEY 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 84.3% of games, misses completely in 15.7%, and leaves about 167 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #9,307 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.75 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___Y K in the 1st position and Y in the 5th position K__E_ K in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _I__Y I in the 2nd position and Y in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe KILEY 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.

4.66 Entropy (bits)
167 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
93.0% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How KILEY 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.

3.75 Avg guesses
99.92% Solved within six
0.72 Spread of game lengths
#9,307 Rank among openers
Opening with KILEY left 2 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.72 means those games clustered within about 0.72 of a guess of the 3.75 average. It ranks #9,307 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
51
3 guesses
805
4 guesses
1,208
5 guesses
265
6 guesses
23

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
EIL

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
84%
Green tile
37%
All gray
16%

When KILEY is useful later

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

After TARSE: 5 candidates, normal mode

TARSE: 20201 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: TEREK, TERRY, THREW, TIRED, TYRED.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, KILEY 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 TARSE: 3 candidates, normal mode

TARSE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

BUNDE: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

OXIME: 00002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

LEEZE: 12002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: HELVE, PEPLE, WELKE.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, KILEY 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 SALET: 3 candidates, normal mode

SALET: 12000 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

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

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

WANKS: 02112 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: KAINS, KAONS, NAKAS.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, KILEY 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 KILEY

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 → 37 after. This feedback leaves 37 candidates.

    All 37 surviving candidates

    BEVEL, BEZEL, CELEB, CHIEL, CULEX, CUPEL, EXCEL, EXPEL, GEMEL, GIBEL, GIMEL, HEVEL, HYLEG, IMPEL, JEBEL, JEWEL, JHEEL, JULEP, KELEP, KEVEL, KILEY, KUGEL, LEMEL, LEVEL, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIMEY, MULEY, PIKEL, PILEI, PILEY, PIXEL, PUZEL, UMBEL, WHEEL, XYLEM, ZIZEL

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test UMBEL against the 37 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 6 surviving candidates

    HYLEG, KELEP, KILEY, LIFEY, PILEI, PILEY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.181. Information: 2.104 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    KILEY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 2.585 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

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 → 37 after. This feedback leaves 37 candidates.

    All 37 surviving candidates

    BEVEL, BEZEL, CELEB, CHIEL, CULEX, CUPEL, EXCEL, EXPEL, GEMEL, GIBEL, GIMEL, HEVEL, HYLEG, IMPEL, JEBEL, JEWEL, JHEEL, JULEP, KELEP, KEVEL, KILEY, KUGEL, LEMEL, LEVEL, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIMEY, MULEY, PIKEL, PILEI, PILEY, PIXEL, PUZEL, UMBEL, WHEEL, XYLEM, ZIZEL

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test UMBEL against the 37 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 6 surviving candidates

    HYLEG, KELEP, KILEY, LIFEY, PILEI, PILEY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 2.181. Information: 2.104 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    KILEY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 2.585 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75944
CRANE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)143344
SLATE01001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)28366
ADIEU00120 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)26844
STARE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75944
AUDIO00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)138744
RAISE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)25644
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116744
SALET00220 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)6444
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 8 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 8 · 5 guesses: 0 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 4–6 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

41 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include LIKED, LIKES, KELLY, RILEY, KERRY, KYLIE, MILKY, YIKES, KYRIE, SILKY. 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 6 different answers at one later decision: HYLEG, KELEP, KILEY, LIFEY, PILEI, PILEY. 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: HYLEG, KELEP, KILEY, LIFEY, PILEI, PILEY.

A lesson from this route

Before KILEY, 6 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

KILEY can come back 89 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

375 answers
339 answers
164 answers
158 answers
153 answers
141 answers
116 answers
101 answers
67 answers
66 answers
55 answers
47 answers
43 answers
33 answers
31 answers
29 answers
28 answers
24 answers
24 answers
23 answers
21 answers
21 answers
21 answers
20 answers
19 answers
18 answers
18 answers
15 answers
14 answers
13 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

K5I1L1E1Y4
Total: 12 points

Words With Friends

Total: 12 points

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

Try next

ROAST TRAIN PLATE TRINE SLART ABHOR

Strategy after playing KILEY

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing KILEY:

16% chance
Suggested:
ROAST
14% chance
Suggested:
ROAST
7% chance
Suggested:
TRAIN

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

15.7% →
ROAST 6.02 bits
14.2% →
ROAST 5.74 bits
6.9% →
TRAIN 5.47 bits
6.6% →
ROAST 4.63 bits
6.4% →
ROAST 4.79 bits
5.9% →
ROAST 5.10 bits
4.8% →
PLATE 4.72 bits
4.2% →
TRINE 4.59 bits
2.8% →
ROAST 4.44 bits
2.8% →
SLART 4.44 bits

Research on KILEY

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

Optimal play

Opening with KILEY, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.72 guesses and ranks #5,998 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 KILEY can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.75; proven optimal play reaches 3.72. 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.

Familiarity and learning

Frequency
KILEY sits in the advanced 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); Pronunciation: CMU Pronouncing Dictionary (BSD); Word frequency: wordfreq (data CC BY-SA 4.0).