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

PUNGO

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

No dictionary definition for PUNGO is recorded in our sourced data.

Meaning and pronunciation

We do not have a sourced definition for this word yet.

Check PUNGO on Wiktionary or report a missing entry.

Use PUNGO in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 87.2% of possible answers.

Open Solver with PUNGO 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 PUNGO performs as a guess

Wordle accepts PUNGO 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 68.9% of games, misses completely in 31.1%, and leaves about 307 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #6,416 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.69 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.

P___O P in the 1st position and O in the 5th position P__G_ P in the 1st position and G in the 4th position _U__O U in the 2nd position and O in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe PUNGO 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.

4.19 Entropy (bits)
307 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
87.2% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How PUNGO 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.

3.69 Avg guesses
100% Solved within six
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#6,416 Rank among openers
Opening with PUNGO 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 3.69 average. It ranks #6,416 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
49
3 guesses
868
4 guesses
1,210
5 guesses
212
6 guesses
15

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
NOU

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
69%
Green tile
22%
All gray
31%

When PUNGO is useful later

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

After SLATE: 5 candidates, normal mode

SLATE: 10101 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ESCAR: 11011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ARSES: 21012 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: ABERS, AEROS, AGERS, APERS, AVERS.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, PUNGO is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.40 candidates on average under the model.

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

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

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

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

Remaining answers: RAINS, RANNS, RAUNS.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, PUNGO is an information probe, outside this survivor list. It leaves 1.00 candidates on average under the model. Every feedback identifies a single candidate; another turn may be needed to submit it.

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

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

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

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

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

Remaining answers: DABBA, DAGGA, DAMNA.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, PUNGO 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 PUNGO

The strategy receives only earlier guesses and their feedback. It does not know the answer before choosing a move. Guessing the answer itself on turn one is a lucky one-turn result, not a recommended general strategy.

Normal mode

Our solver: bounded weighted policy. Current-pool replay over 14,855 accepted words. Model through 2026-11-05.

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 1,022 after. This feedback leaves 1,022 candidates.

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

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

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

    1,022 before → 51 after. This feedback leaves 51 candidates.

    All 51 surviving candidates

    BUCKO, BUFFO, BUMBO, BUNCO, BUNKO, BUXOM, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOKO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CUFFO, FUNGO, GUMBO, HUKOU, JUMBO, JUNCO, JUPON, KHOUM, KNOCK, KNOOP, KNOWN, MUCHO, MUCKO, MUGHO, MUMBO, MUNGO, ONGON, ONMUN, OXBOW, PHONO, PHOOH, PHOOO, PUBCO, PUNGO, PUUKO, QUONK, QUOUK, UNBOX, UNOWN, UNWON, UPBOW, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, ZHOMO

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test PUBCO against the 51 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    PUNGO, PUUKO

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.47. Information: 2.423 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    PUNGO

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

    All 1,022 surviving candidates

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

    Decision measures before feedback

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

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

    1,022 before → 51 after. This feedback leaves 51 candidates.

    All 51 surviving candidates

    BUCKO, BUFFO, BUMBO, BUNCO, BUNKO, BUXOM, CHOCK, CHOCO, CHOKO, CHOMP, CHOOF, CHOOK, CHOOM, CHOON, CHOUX, CHOWK, CUFFO, FUNGO, GUMBO, HUKOU, JUMBO, JUNCO, JUPON, KHOUM, KNOCK, KNOOP, KNOWN, MUCHO, MUCKO, MUGHO, MUMBO, MUNGO, ONGON, ONMUN, OXBOW, PHONO, PHOOH, PHOOO, PUBCO, PUNGO, PUUKO, QUONK, QUOUK, UNBOX, UNOWN, UNWON, UPBOW, WHOMP, WHOOF, WHOOP, ZHOMO

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test PUBCO against the 51 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    PUNGO, PUUKO

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.47. Information: 2.423 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    PUNGO

    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
TARSE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102244
CRANE00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)51044
SLATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105944
ADIEU00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)94155
STARE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)102244
AUDIO02002 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)4655
RAISE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75055
ROATE01000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)50455
SALET00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)105944
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 5 · 5 guesses: 4 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 5 · 5 guesses: 4 · 6 guesses: 0 · Failed in six: 0

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 4–5 guesses among successes; 0 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

10 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include GROUP, POGUE, PUNTO, PONZU, FUNGO, PRUNO, PUTON, JUPON, PORGE, YUPON. 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: PUNGO, PUUKO. 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: PUNGO, PUUKO.

A lesson from this route

Before PUNGO, 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

PUNGO can come back 86 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

743 answers
308 answers
150 answers
110 answers
101 answers
93 answers
92 answers
71 answers
63 answers
57 answers
44 answers
42 answers
37 answers
34 answers
29 answers
28 answers
23 answers
23 answers
22 answers
18 answers
18 answers
16 answers
15 answers
12 answers
12 answers
11 answers
10 answers
10 answers
10 answers
10 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

P3U1N1G2O1
Total: 8 points

Words With Friends

Total: 12 points

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

Try next

REAST CRATE ARIEL STALE SLATE SCIRE

Strategy after playing PUNGO

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing PUNGO:

31% chance
Suggested:
REAST
13% chance
Suggested:
CRATE
6% chance
Suggested:
ARIEL

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

31.1% →
REAST 6.30 bits
12.9% →
CRATE 5.30 bits
6.3% →
ARIEL 5.31 bits
4.6% →
STALE 5.40 bits
4.2% →
SLATE 5.25 bits
3.9% →
SCIRE 4.58 bits
3.8% →
SOARE 4.45 bits
3.0% →
LAGER 5.00 bits
2.6% →
TARSE 4.96 bits
2.4% →
CADIE 4.57 bits

Research on PUNGO

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

Optimal play

Opening with PUNGO, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.74 guesses and ranks #7,306 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 3.85 guesses at best and is rank #2,719 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.69, at or below the proven-optimal 3.74, because the two figures score different answer lists.

These figures come from exhaustive game-tree search and are exact for the NYT lists of July 2023 (3,158 answers). They do not use the site's working answer pool.

Familiarity and learning

Frequency
PUNGO sits in the rare band of the wordfreq scale, appearing less than once per million words in the source corpus. Corpus frequency does not measure every reader’s familiarity.

Sources: Optimal-play values: Alex Selby's exhaustive Wordle analysis (MIT); Word frequency: wordfreq (data CC BY-SA 4.0).