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

MOLED

MOLED 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 mole

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

Use MOLED in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 93.4% of possible answers.

Open Solver with MOLED 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 MOLED performs as a guess

Wordle accepts MOLED 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 83.4% of games, misses completely in 16.6%, and leaves about 157 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #1,839 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.62 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.

M___D M in the 1st position and D in the 5th position M__E_ M in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _O__D O in the 2nd position and D in the 5th position MO_ED M in the 1st position, O in the 2nd position, E in the 4th position, and D in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe MOLED 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.

4.92 Entropy (bits)
157 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
93.4% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How MOLED 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.

3.62 Avg guesses
99.96% Solved within six
0.68 Spread of game lengths
#1,839 Rank among openers
Opening with MOLED left 1 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.68 means those games clustered within about 0.68 of a guess of the 3.62 average. It ranks #1,839 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
71
3 guesses
952
4 guesses
1,150
5 guesses
169
6 guesses
11

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
ELO

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
83%
Green tile
33%
All gray
17%

When MOLED is useful later

MOLED 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 SLATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

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

RASPS: 11002 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ABRIS: 10202 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

HORAS: 00222 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: DURAS, MURAS, UMRAS.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, MOLED is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

Try this position in the Solver
After AUDIO: 3 candidates, normal mode

AUDIO: 11200 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: LADDU, SADHU, UNDAM.

With a budget of 5 more guesses, MOLED 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: 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, MOLED 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 MOLED

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 → 18 after. This feedback leaves 18 candidates.

    All 18 surviving candidates

    COLED, DOLED, DOLEY, DOWEL, HOLED, JOLED, LOBED, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOWED, LOXED, MOLED, POLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test POLED against the 18 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 7 surviving candidates

    COLED, DOLED, HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 4.999. Information: 1.949 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 5 surviving candidates

    HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    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 → 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 → 18 after. This feedback leaves 18 candidates.

    All 18 surviving candidates

    COLED, DOLED, DOLEY, DOWEL, HOLED, JOLED, LOBED, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOWED, LOXED, MOLED, POLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test POLED against the 18 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 7 surviving candidates

    COLED, DOLED, HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 4.999. Information: 1.949 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 6 surviving candidates

    COLED, HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

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

    All 5 surviving candidates

    COLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

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

    All 4 surviving candidates

    JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED

    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
TARSE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)759Not solved in sixNot solved in six
CRANE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)14336Not solved in six
SLATE01001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)2835Not solved in six
ADIEU01020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)307Not solved in sixNot solved in six
STARE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)759Not solved in sixNot solved in six
AUDIO00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)361Not solved in sixNot solved in six
RAISE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)736Not solved in sixNot solved in six
ROATE02001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)2876Not solved in six
SALET00220 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)645Not solved in six
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 0 · 5 guesses: 2 · 6 guesses: 2 · Failed in six: 5
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: 5–6 guesses among successes; 14 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

15 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include MODEL, MEDAL, MOULD, MOLDS, MOLDY, MELDS, LAMED, LIMED, MILDS, LEDUM. 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: COLED, DOLED, HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED. 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: COLED, DOLED, HOLED, JOLED, LOLED, MOLED, VOLED.

A lesson from this route

Before DACES, 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

MOLED can come back 111 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

397 answers
314 answers
168 answers
155 answers
134 answers
108 answers
89 answers
62 answers
61 answers
51 answers
51 answers
50 answers
46 answers
34 answers
33 answers
30 answers
29 answers
26 answers
24 answers
24 answers
22 answers
20 answers
20 answers
19 answers
19 answers
18 answers
17 answers
16 answers
15 answers
15 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

M3O1L1E1D2
Total: 8 points

Words With Friends

Total: 10 points

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

Try next

SAINT STARE ARSON STAIR TEASE SHART

Strategy after playing MOLED

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing MOLED:

17% chance
Suggested:
SAINT
13% chance
Suggested:
STARE
7% chance
Suggested:
SAINT

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

16.6% →
SAINT 6.29 bits
13.1% →
STARE 5.62 bits
7.0% →
SAINT 5.26 bits
6.5% →
ARSON 5.26 bits
5.6% →
STAIR 4.70 bits
4.5% →
TEASE 4.83 bits
3.7% →
SHART 4.54 bits
2.6% →
GEARE 4.60 bits
2.6% →
PRASE 4.28 bits
2.1% →
ARENE 3.62 bits

Research on MOLED

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

Optimal play

Opening with MOLED, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.63 guesses and ranks #1,028 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 MOLED can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.62, at or below the proven-optimal 3.63, 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

Dominant sense
Lancaster raters associated it most strongly with sight (4.1 of 5).

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT); Lancaster Sensorimotor Norms (CC BY 4.0).