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

NEUKS

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

plural of neuk

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

Use NEUKS in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 91.6% of possible answers.

Open Solver with NEUKS 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 NEUKS performs as a guess

Wordle accepts NEUKS 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 81.2% of games, misses completely in 18.8%, and leaves about 200 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #9,333 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.

N___S N in the 1st position and S in the 5th position N__K_ N in the 1st position and K in the 4th position _E__S E in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position NE_KS N in the 1st position, E in the 2nd position, K in the 4th position, and S in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe NEUKS 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.

4.45 Entropy (bits)
200 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
91.6% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How NEUKS 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
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#9,333 Rank among openers
Opening with NEUKS left 2 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.69 means those games clustered within about 0.69 of a guess of the 3.75 average. It ranks #9,333 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
37
3 guesses
811
4 guesses
1,231
5 guesses
256
6 guesses
17

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
ENSU

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
81%
Green tile
22%
All gray
19%

When NEUKS is useful later

NEUKS tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 2 of 54 sampled positions where it was legal. This designed sample is not a measure of how often real players should use it.

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, NEUKS 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, NEUKS 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 NEUKS

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 → 853 after. This feedback leaves 853 candidates.

    All 853 surviving candidates

    BECKS, BEDES, BEEFS, BEEPS, BEINS, BELLS, BENDS, BENES, BENIS, BESES, BESOM, BEZES, BHELS, BIBES, BICES, BIDES, BIKES, BILES, BINES, BISES, BIZES, BLEBS, BLEES, BLEYS, BLUES, BODES, BOEPS, BOKES, BOLES, BONES, BOSEY, BOWES, BOXES, BUDES, BUKES, BUSED, BUSES, BYDES, BYKES, CEDES, CEDIS, CEILS, CELLS, CEPES, CHEFS, CHEMS, CHEWS, CIDES, CIELS, CINES, CIVES, CLEFS, CLEGS, CLEMS, CLEWS, CLIES, CLUES, CODES, COEDS, COKES, COLES, COMES, CONES, COPES, COSEC, COSED, COSES, COSEY, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUSEC, CUZES, CYMES, DEBES, DEBUS, DECKS, DECOS, DEEDS, DEEMS, DEENS, DEEPS, DEEVS, DEFIS, DEGUS, DEIDS, DEILS, DEKES, DELES, DELFS, DELIS, DELLS, DELOS, DEMES, DEMOS, DENES, DENIS, DESEX, DESHI, DESIS, DESKS, DEVIS, DEVOS, DEXES, DEXYS, DICES, DIEBS, DIELS, DIKES, DIMES, DINES, DIVES, DOBES, DOEKS, DOGES, DOLES, DOMES, DOPES, DOSED, DOSEH, DOSES, DOVES, DOXES, DOZES, DUCES, DUDES, DUELS, DUKES, DULES, DUNES, DUPES, DUXES, DYKES, DYNES, EBONS, ECHES, ECHOS, ECIGS, EDGES, EEVNS, EIDOS, EILDS, EISEL, ELOPS, ELSIN, ELVES, EMBUS, EMEUS, EMICS, EMMYS, EMYDS, ENEWS, ENOLS, ENOWS, ENSEW, ENSKY, EOSIN, EPEES, EPICS, EQUES, ESNES, ESSES, EUGHS, EUSOL, EVEGS, EVENS, EVILS, EXECS, EXIES, EXONS, EXPOS, EXULS, FECES, FECKS, FEEBS, FEEDS, FEELS, FEENS, FELLS, FEMES, FENDS, FENIS, FENKS, FEODS, FEUDS, FEZES, FICES, FIDES, FIEFS, FIFES, FIKES, FILES, FINES, FIVES, FIXES, FLEES, FLEGS, FLEWS, FLEYS, FLIES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FONES, FOXES, FUELS, FUMES, FUSED, FUSEL, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GECKS, GEEKS, GEEPS, GELDS, GENES, GENUS, GEUMS, GHEES, GIBES, GIVES, GLEDS, GLEES, GLEIS, GLENS, GLEYS, GLUES, GOELS, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GUDES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HECKS, HEEDS, HEELS, HEIDS, HEILS, HELES, HELLS, HELMS, HELOS, HELPS, HEMES, HEMPS, HENDS, HESPS, HEXES, HIDES, HIEMS, HIKES, HIPES, HIVES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HONES, HOPES, HOSED, HOSEL, HOSEN, HOSES, HOSEY, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HUIES, HULES, HYENS, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, ICHES, IDEES, IDLES, ILEUS, ISHES, ISLED, ISLES, ISSEI, IVIES, JEDIS, JEELS, JEEPS, JEFES, JEFFS, JEHUS, JELLS, JEONS, JESUS, JIBES, JIVES, JOBES, JOEYS, JOKES, JOLES, JONES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KECKS, KEEFS, KEEKS, KEELS, KEENS, KEEPS, KELLS, KELPS, KEMBS, KEMPS, KENOS, KEPIS, KEXES, KIBES, KIEFS, KIEVS, KIKES, KINES, KIPES, KNEES, KOELS, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEDES, LEEKS, LEEPS, LEGES, LEMES, LENDS, LENES, LENGS, LENIS, LENOS, LESBO, LESES, LESOS, LEUDS, LEVES, LEVIS, LEWIS, LEXES, LEXIS, LEZES, LIEFS, LIENS, LIEUS, LIFES, LIKES, LIMES, LINES, LIPES, LISES, LIVES, LOBES, LODES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSED, LOSEL, LOSEN, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUDES, LUGES, LUNES, LUXES, LWEIS, LYMES, LYNES, LYSED, LYSES, MEBOS, MECHS, MECKS, MEEDS, MEEPS, MEFFS, MEIDS, MEILS, MEINS, MELDS, MELES, MELLS, MELOS, MEMES, MEMOS, MENDS, MENES, MENGS, MENUS, MEOUS, MEOWS, MESEL, MESEM, MESES, MESHY, MESIC, MESON, MESYL, MEUMS, MEVES, MEWLS, MEZES, MIENS, MIKES, MILES, MIMES, MINES, MISES, MIXES, MIZES, MOBES, MODES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSED, MOSES, MOSEY, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSED, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, NECKS, NEEBS, NEEDS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEIFS, NELIS, NEMNS, NENES, NEONS, NESKI, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVES, NEVIS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NIDES, NIEFS, NIFES, NINES, NISEI, NIXES, NODES, NOELS, NOKES, NOLES, NOMES, NONES, NOSED, NOSES, NOSEY, NOXES, NOYES, NUDES, NUKES, NUSED, NUSES, OBEYS, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OKEHS, OKIES, OLEHS, OLEOS, OLPES, OMEES, OMENS, OMNES, ONCES, ONDES, ONSEN, OOSES, OOZES, OPENS, OSEYS, OUEDS, OUENS, OUSEL, OVELS, OVENS, OWIES, OWSEN, OXIES, PECHS, PECKS, PEDES, PEDIS, PEDOS, PEEKS, PEELS, PEENS, PEEPS, PEGHS, PEGOS, PEINS, PEKES, PELES, PELFS, PELLS, PELUS, PENDS, PENES, PENIS, PENKS, PEONS, PEPOS, PESCH, PESKY, PESOS, PHIES, PIEDS, PIKES, PILES, PINES, PIPES, PISES, PIXES, PIZES, PLEBS, PLEWS, PLIES, PLUES, PNEUS, POEMS, POEPS, POKES, POLES, POMES, PONES, POPES, POSED, POSES, POSEY, POXES, PSEUD, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYNES, PYXES, QUEYS, QUIES, SCEND, SCYES, SDEIN, SEBUM, SECCO, SECHS, SEDES, SEDGY, SEDUM, SEEDS, SEEDY, SEEKS, SEELD, SEELS, SEELY, SEEMS, SEEPS, SEEPY, SEGNI, SEGNO, SEGOL, SEGOS, SEIFS, SEILS, SEKOS, SELES, SELFS, SELFY, SELKY, SELLS, SEMEN, SEMES, SEMIS, SENDS, SENES, SENEX, SENGI, SENVY, SEPIC, SEPOY, SEPPO, SESEY, SEVEN, SEWED, SEWEL, SEWEN, SEWIN, SEXED, SEXES, SEYEN, SEZES, SHEDS, SHEEL, SHEEN, SHEEP, SHEIK, SHELF, SHELL, SHEND, SHENG, SHEOL, SHEWN, SHEWS, SHIED, SHIEL, SHIES, SHLEP, SHMEK, SHOED, SHOES, SICES, SIDED, SIDES, SIDEY, SIELD, SIENS, SIKES, SILED, SILEN, SILES, SILEX, SINED, SINES, SINEW, SIPED, SIPES, SISES, SIXES, SIZED, SIZEL, SIZES, SKEDS, SKEED, SKEEF, SKEEN, SKEES, SKEEV, SKEEZ, SKEGG, SKEGS, SKEIN, SKELF, SKELL, SKELM, SKELP, SKENS, SKEOS, SKEPS, SKEWS, SKIED, SKIES, SKIEY, SKYED, SKYEY, SLEBS, SLEDS, SLEEK, SLEEP, SLEWS, SLEYS, SLOES, SLUED, SLUES, SMEEK, SMEES, SMEIK, SMELL, SMEWS, SNEBS, SNECK, SNEDS, SNEED, SNEES, SNELL, SNIED, SNIES, SNOEK, SNOEP, SNYES, SOCES, SOKEN, SOKES, SOLED, SOLEI, SOLES, SONES, SOOEY, SOWED, SOXES, SPECK, SPECS, SPEED, SPEEL, SPEIL, SPEKS, SPELD, SPELK, SPELL, SPEND, SPEOS, SPEUG, SPEWS, SPEWY, SPIED, SPIEL, SPIES, SPUED, SPUES, SQUEG, SUPED, SUPES, SUSED, SUSES, SWEED, SWEEL, SWEEP, SWEES, SWELL, SWEYS, SWIES, SYCES, SYEDS, SYENS, SYKES, SYNED, SYNES, SYPED, SYPES, UNCES, UNSEW, UNSEX, UPSEY, USENS, VEEPS, VEGES, VEGOS, VEILS, VEINS, VELDS, VELES, VELLS, VENDS, VENUS, VEVES, VEXES, VIBES, VICES, VIEWS, VINES, VISED, VISES, VIVES, VLEIS, VLIES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEEDS, WEEIS, WEEKS, WEELS, WEEMS, WEENS, WEEPS, WEIDS, WEILS, WELDS, WELKS, WELLS, WEMBS, WENDS, WEXES, WHENS, WHEWS, WHEYS, WHIES, WIDES, WIELS, WIFES, WILES, WINES, WIPES, WISED, WISES, WIVES, WIZES, WUSES, WYLES, YECHS, YEDES, YEEDS, YEGGS, YELKS, YELLS, YELMS, YELPS, YESES, YESKS, YEUKS, YEVES, YEXES, YIKES, YIPES, YLEMS, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEBUS, ZEINS, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZINES, ZONES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test NIDES against the 853 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    853 before → 14 after. This feedback leaves 14 candidates.

    All 14 surviving candidates

    NECKS, NEEBS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEMNS, NEONS, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NOELS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.74. Information: 3.737 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test NEXUS against the 14 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    NEUKS, NEUMS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.258. Information: 0.398 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    NEUKS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.0 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 → 853 after. This feedback leaves 853 candidates.

    All 853 surviving candidates

    BECKS, BEDES, BEEFS, BEEPS, BEINS, BELLS, BENDS, BENES, BENIS, BESES, BESOM, BEZES, BHELS, BIBES, BICES, BIDES, BIKES, BILES, BINES, BISES, BIZES, BLEBS, BLEES, BLEYS, BLUES, BODES, BOEPS, BOKES, BOLES, BONES, BOSEY, BOWES, BOXES, BUDES, BUKES, BUSED, BUSES, BYDES, BYKES, CEDES, CEDIS, CEILS, CELLS, CEPES, CHEFS, CHEMS, CHEWS, CIDES, CIELS, CINES, CIVES, CLEFS, CLEGS, CLEMS, CLEWS, CLIES, CLUES, CODES, COEDS, COKES, COLES, COMES, CONES, COPES, COSEC, COSED, COSES, COSEY, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUSEC, CUZES, CYMES, DEBES, DEBUS, DECKS, DECOS, DEEDS, DEEMS, DEENS, DEEPS, DEEVS, DEFIS, DEGUS, DEIDS, DEILS, DEKES, DELES, DELFS, DELIS, DELLS, DELOS, DEMES, DEMOS, DENES, DENIS, DESEX, DESHI, DESIS, DESKS, DEVIS, DEVOS, DEXES, DEXYS, DICES, DIEBS, DIELS, DIKES, DIMES, DINES, DIVES, DOBES, DOEKS, DOGES, DOLES, DOMES, DOPES, DOSED, DOSEH, DOSES, DOVES, DOXES, DOZES, DUCES, DUDES, DUELS, DUKES, DULES, DUNES, DUPES, DUXES, DYKES, DYNES, EBONS, ECHES, ECHOS, ECIGS, EDGES, EEVNS, EIDOS, EILDS, EISEL, ELOPS, ELSIN, ELVES, EMBUS, EMEUS, EMICS, EMMYS, EMYDS, ENEWS, ENOLS, ENOWS, ENSEW, ENSKY, EOSIN, EPEES, EPICS, EQUES, ESNES, ESSES, EUGHS, EUSOL, EVEGS, EVENS, EVILS, EXECS, EXIES, EXONS, EXPOS, EXULS, FECES, FECKS, FEEBS, FEEDS, FEELS, FEENS, FELLS, FEMES, FENDS, FENIS, FENKS, FEODS, FEUDS, FEZES, FICES, FIDES, FIEFS, FIFES, FIKES, FILES, FINES, FIVES, FIXES, FLEES, FLEGS, FLEWS, FLEYS, FLIES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FONES, FOXES, FUELS, FUMES, FUSED, FUSEL, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GECKS, GEEKS, GEEPS, GELDS, GENES, GENUS, GEUMS, GHEES, GIBES, GIVES, GLEDS, GLEES, GLEIS, GLENS, GLEYS, GLUES, GOELS, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GUDES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HECKS, HEEDS, HEELS, HEIDS, HEILS, HELES, HELLS, HELMS, HELOS, HELPS, HEMES, HEMPS, HENDS, HESPS, HEXES, HIDES, HIEMS, HIKES, HIPES, HIVES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HONES, HOPES, HOSED, HOSEL, HOSEN, HOSES, HOSEY, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HUIES, HULES, HYENS, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, ICHES, IDEES, IDLES, ILEUS, ISHES, ISLED, ISLES, ISSEI, IVIES, JEDIS, JEELS, JEEPS, JEFES, JEFFS, JEHUS, JELLS, JEONS, JESUS, JIBES, JIVES, JOBES, JOEYS, JOKES, JOLES, JONES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KECKS, KEEFS, KEEKS, KEELS, KEENS, KEEPS, KELLS, KELPS, KEMBS, KEMPS, KENOS, KEPIS, KEXES, KIBES, KIEFS, KIEVS, KIKES, KINES, KIPES, KNEES, KOELS, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEDES, LEEKS, LEEPS, LEGES, LEMES, LENDS, LENES, LENGS, LENIS, LENOS, LESBO, LESES, LESOS, LEUDS, LEVES, LEVIS, LEWIS, LEXES, LEXIS, LEZES, LIEFS, LIENS, LIEUS, LIFES, LIKES, LIMES, LINES, LIPES, LISES, LIVES, LOBES, LODES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSED, LOSEL, LOSEN, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUDES, LUGES, LUNES, LUXES, LWEIS, LYMES, LYNES, LYSED, LYSES, MEBOS, MECHS, MECKS, MEEDS, MEEPS, MEFFS, MEIDS, MEILS, MEINS, MELDS, MELES, MELLS, MELOS, MEMES, MEMOS, MENDS, MENES, MENGS, MENUS, MEOUS, MEOWS, MESEL, MESEM, MESES, MESHY, MESIC, MESON, MESYL, MEUMS, MEVES, MEWLS, MEZES, MIENS, MIKES, MILES, MIMES, MINES, MISES, MIXES, MIZES, MOBES, MODES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSED, MOSES, MOSEY, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSED, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, NECKS, NEEBS, NEEDS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEIFS, NELIS, NEMNS, NENES, NEONS, NESKI, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVES, NEVIS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NIDES, NIEFS, NIFES, NINES, NISEI, NIXES, NODES, NOELS, NOKES, NOLES, NOMES, NONES, NOSED, NOSES, NOSEY, NOXES, NOYES, NUDES, NUKES, NUSED, NUSES, OBEYS, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OKEHS, OKIES, OLEHS, OLEOS, OLPES, OMEES, OMENS, OMNES, ONCES, ONDES, ONSEN, OOSES, OOZES, OPENS, OSEYS, OUEDS, OUENS, OUSEL, OVELS, OVENS, OWIES, OWSEN, OXIES, PECHS, PECKS, PEDES, PEDIS, PEDOS, PEEKS, PEELS, PEENS, PEEPS, PEGHS, PEGOS, PEINS, PEKES, PELES, PELFS, PELLS, PELUS, PENDS, PENES, PENIS, PENKS, PEONS, PEPOS, PESCH, PESKY, PESOS, PHIES, PIEDS, PIKES, PILES, PINES, PIPES, PISES, PIXES, PIZES, PLEBS, PLEWS, PLIES, PLUES, PNEUS, POEMS, POEPS, POKES, POLES, POMES, PONES, POPES, POSED, POSES, POSEY, POXES, PSEUD, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYNES, PYXES, QUEYS, QUIES, SCEND, SCYES, SDEIN, SEBUM, SECCO, SECHS, SEDES, SEDGY, SEDUM, SEEDS, SEEDY, SEEKS, SEELD, SEELS, SEELY, SEEMS, SEEPS, SEEPY, SEGNI, SEGNO, SEGOL, SEGOS, SEIFS, SEILS, SEKOS, SELES, SELFS, SELFY, SELKY, SELLS, SEMEN, SEMES, SEMIS, SENDS, SENES, SENEX, SENGI, SENVY, SEPIC, SEPOY, SEPPO, SESEY, SEVEN, SEWED, SEWEL, SEWEN, SEWIN, SEXED, SEXES, SEYEN, SEZES, SHEDS, SHEEL, SHEEN, SHEEP, SHEIK, SHELF, SHELL, SHEND, SHENG, SHEOL, SHEWN, SHEWS, SHIED, SHIEL, SHIES, SHLEP, SHMEK, SHOED, SHOES, SICES, SIDED, SIDES, SIDEY, SIELD, SIENS, SIKES, SILED, SILEN, SILES, SILEX, SINED, SINES, SINEW, SIPED, SIPES, SISES, SIXES, SIZED, SIZEL, SIZES, SKEDS, SKEED, SKEEF, SKEEN, SKEES, SKEEV, SKEEZ, SKEGG, SKEGS, SKEIN, SKELF, SKELL, SKELM, SKELP, SKENS, SKEOS, SKEPS, SKEWS, SKIED, SKIES, SKIEY, SKYED, SKYEY, SLEBS, SLEDS, SLEEK, SLEEP, SLEWS, SLEYS, SLOES, SLUED, SLUES, SMEEK, SMEES, SMEIK, SMELL, SMEWS, SNEBS, SNECK, SNEDS, SNEED, SNEES, SNELL, SNIED, SNIES, SNOEK, SNOEP, SNYES, SOCES, SOKEN, SOKES, SOLED, SOLEI, SOLES, SONES, SOOEY, SOWED, SOXES, SPECK, SPECS, SPEED, SPEEL, SPEIL, SPEKS, SPELD, SPELK, SPELL, SPEND, SPEOS, SPEUG, SPEWS, SPEWY, SPIED, SPIEL, SPIES, SPUED, SPUES, SQUEG, SUPED, SUPES, SUSED, SUSES, SWEED, SWEEL, SWEEP, SWEES, SWELL, SWEYS, SWIES, SYCES, SYEDS, SYENS, SYKES, SYNED, SYNES, SYPED, SYPES, UNCES, UNSEW, UNSEX, UPSEY, USENS, VEEPS, VEGES, VEGOS, VEILS, VEINS, VELDS, VELES, VELLS, VENDS, VENUS, VEVES, VEXES, VIBES, VICES, VIEWS, VINES, VISED, VISES, VIVES, VLEIS, VLIES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEEDS, WEEIS, WEEKS, WEELS, WEEMS, WEENS, WEEPS, WEIDS, WEILS, WELDS, WELKS, WELLS, WEMBS, WENDS, WEXES, WHENS, WHEWS, WHEYS, WHIES, WIDES, WIELS, WIFES, WILES, WINES, WIPES, WISED, WISES, WIVES, WIZES, WUSES, WYLES, YECHS, YEDES, YEEDS, YEGGS, YELKS, YELLS, YELMS, YELPS, YESES, YESKS, YEUKS, YEVES, YEXES, YIKES, YIPES, YLEMS, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEBUS, ZEINS, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZINES, ZONES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test NIDES against the 853 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    853 before → 14 after. This feedback leaves 14 candidates.

    All 14 surviving candidates

    NECKS, NEEBS, NEEFS, NEEMS, NEEPS, NEGUS, NEMNS, NEONS, NEUKS, NEUMS, NEVUS, NEWBS, NEXUS, NOELS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.74. Information: 3.737 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test NEXUS against the 14 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    NEUKS, NEUMS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.258. Information: 0.398 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    NEUKS

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 1.0 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
TARSE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)85344
CRANE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)40344
SLATE10001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)73744
ADIEU00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)26644
STARE10001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)68933
AUDIO01000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)40333
RAISE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)85244
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116755
SALET10010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)45144
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 2 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 1 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 2 · 4 guesses: 6 · 5 guesses: 1 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 3–5 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

66 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include VENUE, VENUS, GENUS, NEXUS, FUNKY, MENUS, NECKS, SNUCK, NOUNS, DUKES. 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 2 different answers at one later decision: NEUKS, NEUMS. 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: NEUKS, NEUMS.

A lesson from this route

Before NEUKS, 2 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

NEUKS can come back 75 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

449 answers
371 answers
178 answers
164 answers
146 answers
139 answers
109 answers
101 answers
43 answers
42 answers
41 answers
34 answers
34 answers
33 answers
31 answers
31 answers
28 answers
27 answers
27 answers
27 answers
25 answers
19 answers
18 answers
18 answers
17 answers
15 answers
15 answers
15 answers
11 answers
10 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

N1E1U1K5S1
Total: 9 points

Words With Friends

Total: 11 points

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

Try next

TRAIL ORATE SLART CAIRN REATE BURLY

Strategy after playing NEUKS

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing NEUKS:

19% chance
Suggested:
TRAIL
16% chance
Suggested:
ORATE
7% chance
Suggested:
SLART

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

18.8% →
TRAIL 5.97 bits
15.5% →
ORATE 5.21 bits
7.4% →
SLART 5.24 bits
6.9% →
CAIRN 5.18 bits
6.1% →
REATE 4.61 bits
5.8% →
SLART 5.04 bits
4.6% →
BURLY 4.42 bits
4.2% →
AINEE 4.52 bits
1.8% →
CLOTE 3.99 bits
1.8% →
TUBER 3.84 bits

Research on NEUKS

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

Optimal play

Opening with NEUKS, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.75 guesses and ranks #8,387 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 NEUKS can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.75, at or below the proven-optimal 3.75, 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.

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT).