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

SKIVY

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

Alternative form of skivvy.

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

Use SKIVY in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 85.4% of possible answers.

Open Solver with SKIVY 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 SKIVY performs as a guess

Wordle accepts SKIVY 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 66.8% of games, misses completely in 33.2%, and leaves about 349 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #12,013 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.81 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.

S___Y S in the 1st position and Y in the 5th position S__V_ S in the 1st position and V in the 4th position _K__Y K in the 2nd position and Y in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe SKIVY 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.

3.78 Entropy (bits)
349 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
85.4% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How SKIVY 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.

3.81 Avg guesses
99.96% Solved within six
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#12,013 Rank among openers
Opening with SKIVY left 1 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 3.81 average. It ranks #12,013 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
36
3 guesses
700
4 guesses
1,305
5 guesses
297
6 guesses
15

Composition

5/5 unique
1 vowels
Common:
IS

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
67%
Green tile
39%
All gray
33%

When SKIVY is useful later

SKIVY tied for the smallest expected survivor count in 7 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, SKIVY 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, SKIVY 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 CRANE: 3 candidates, normal mode

CRANE: 00100 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

MAILL: 01020 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ADULT: 10020 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

SHOLA: 00122 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: BOXLA, BOYLA, VOBLA.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, SKIVY 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 SKIVY

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 → 1,136 after. This feedback leaves 1,136 candidates.

    All 1,136 surviving candidates

    BIBBS, BIBIS, BIDIS, BIFFS, BIGGS, BIGOS, BILKS, BILLS, BINDS, BINGS, BINKS, BIOGS, BIONS, BISKS, BISOM, BISON, BLINS, BLIPS, BLOBS, BLOCS, BLOGS, BLOWS, BLUBS, BLUDS, BOBOS, BOCKS, BOFFS, BOGUS, BOHOS, BOILS, BOKOS, BOLDS, BOLKS, BOLLS, BOLOS, BOLUS, BOMBS, BONDS, BONGS, BONKS, BONUS, BOOBS, BOOHS, BOOKS, BOOLS, BOOMS, BOONS, BOSKS, BOSKY, BOSOM, BOSON, BOSUN, BOUKS, BOUNS, BOWLS, BOYFS, BOYGS, BOYOS, BOZOS, BUBUS, BUCKS, BUDIS, BUDOS, BUFFS, BUFOS, BUHLS, BUIKS, BUKOS, BULBS, BULKS, BULLS, BUMFS, BUMPS, BUNDS, BUNGS, BUNKS, BUNNS, BUOYS, BUSBY, BUSHY, BUSKS, BUSKY, CHIBS, CHICS, CHIKS, CHINS, CHIPS, CHIVS, CHOCS, CHOGS, CHONS, CHOPS, CHOWS, CHUBS, CHUGS, CHUMS, CILLS, CINQS, CIONS, CISCO, CLIPS, CLODS, CLOGS, CLONS, CLOPS, CLOUS, CLOWS, CLOYS, CLUBS, COBBS, COCKS, COCOS, COCUS, COFFS, COHOS, COIFS, COILS, COINS, COLDS, COLLS, COMBS, COMMS, COMPS, COMUS, CONFS, CONKS, CONNS, CONUS, COOFS, COOKS, COOLS, COOMS, COONS, COOPS, COUPS, COWKS, COWLS, COWPS, CUCKS, CUFFS, CUIFS, CULLS, CULMS, CUSHY, CUSKS, CUSPS, CUSPY, CUSUM, DHOLS, DHOWS, DIBBS, DICKS, DIDIS, DIDOS, DIFFS, DILLS, DIMPS, DINGS, DINKS, DINOS, DIOLS, DISCI, DISCO, DISCS, DISHY, DISKS, DIVIS, DIVOS, DJINS, DOCKS, DOCOS, DOCUS, DODOS, DOFFS, DOJOS, DOLLS, DOLOS, DONGS, DOOBS, DOOFS, DOOKS, DOOLS, DOOMS, DOUCS, DOUKS, DOUMS, DOUPS, DOWDS, DOWFS, DOWLS, DOWNS, DOWPS, DSOBO, DSOMO, DUCKS, DUFFS, DUFUS, DULLS, DUMBS, DUMPS, DUNGS, DUNKS, DUSKS, DUSKY, DYNOS, DZHOS, FICOS, FICUS, FIDOS, FIDUS, FIFIS, FIGOS, FILKS, FILLS, FILMS, FILOS, FINDS, FINIS, FINKS, FINOS, FIQHS, FISCS, FISHO, FISHY, FISKS, FLICS, FLIMS, FLIPS, FLOBS, FLOCS, FLOGS, FLOPS, FLOWS, FLUBS, FOCUS, FOGOS, FOHNS, FOIDS, FOILS, FOINS, FOLDS, FOLKS, FONDS, FOODS, FOOLS, FOUDS, FOULS, FOWLS, FUCKS, FUCUS, FUFFS, FUGIS, FUGUS, FUJIS, FULLS, FUNDS, FUNGS, FUNIS, FUNKS, FUSIL, FUSKS, GIBUS, GILDS, GILLS, GIMPS, GINGS, GINKS, GISMO, GISMS, GLIBS, GLIMS, GLOBS, GLOMS, GLOPS, GLOWS, GLUGS, GLUMS, GNOWS, GOBIS, GOBOS, GOFFS, GOGOS, GOJIS, GOLDS, GOLFS, GOLPS, GONGS, GONKS, GONYS, GOODS, GOOFS, GOOGS, GOOKS, GOOLS, GOONS, GOOPS, GOUKS, GOWDS, GOWFS, GOWKS, GOWLS, GOWNS, GUCKS, GUFFS, GUIDS, GULFS, GULLS, GULPS, GUMPS, GUNKS, GUSHY, GUSLI, GYMPS, GYNOS, GYPOS, HICKS, HIFIS, HIGHS, HILLS, HILUS, HINDS, HINGS, HIOIS, HOBOS, HOCKS, HOCUS, HOGGS, HOGHS, HOGOS, HOIKS, HOKIS, HOLDS, HOLKS, HOLMS, HOLOS, HOMOS, HONDS, HONGS, HONKS, HOODS, HOOFS, HOOKS, HOONS, HOOPS, HOUFS, HOWFS, HOWKS, HOWLS, HUCKS, HUFFS, HUHUS, HULKS, HULLS, HUMFS, HUMPS, HUMUS, HUNKS, HUSHY, HUSKS, HUSKY, HUSOS, HWYLS, HYMNS, HYPOS, HYSON, ICONS, IDLIS, IDOLS, IDYLS, IGLUS, IGNIS, IIWIS, IKONS, IMBOS, IMIDS, IMLIS, IMPIS, IMSHI, IMSHY, INCUS, INFOS, INSPO, JHILS, JIBBS, JIFFS, JILLS, JINGS, JINKS, JINNS, JISMS, JOCKS, JOCOS, JOHNS, JOINS, JOLLS, JOMOS, JONGS, JOOKS, JOUGS, JOUKS, JOWLS, JUCOS, JUDOS, JUJUS, JUKUS, JUMPS, JUNKS, KHUDS, KICKS, KILLS, KILNS, KILOS, KILPS, KINDS, KINGS, KINKS, KINOS, KIPPS, KIWIS, KLIKS, KNOBS, KNOPS, KNOWS, KNUBS, KOBOS, KOFFS, KOHLS, KOJIS, KOLOS, KONKS, KOOKS, KOPHS, KUDOS, KUDUS, KUFIS, KUKUS, KUMIS, KUMYS, KUNDS, KUZUS, KYBOS, KYNDS, LICKS, LIDOS, LILLS, LILOS, LIMBS, LIMNS, LIMOS, LIMPS, LINDS, LINGS, LINKS, LINNS, LINOS, LIONS, LIPOS, LISKS, LISPS, LOBOS, LOBUS, LOCHS, LOCIS, LOCKS, LOCOS, LOCUS, LOGOS, LOIDS, LOINS, LOLLS, LOLOS, LONGS, LOOFS, LOOKS, LOOMS, LOONS, LOOPS, LOUIS, LOUNS, LOUPS, LOWNS, LOWPS, LUCKS, LUDOS, LUFFS, LULLS, LULUS, LUMPS, LUNGS, LUNKS, LUPUS, LUSHY, LUSKS, LUSUS, LYSIN, LYSIS, LYSOL, MICKS, MICOS, MIDIS, MIFFS, MIGGS, MIHIS, MIKOS, MILDS, MILFS, MILKS, MILLS, MILOS, MIMIS, MINDS, MINGS, MINIS, MINKS, MINOS, MINUS, MISCH, MISDO, MISGO, MISKY, MISLS, MISOS, MIXIS, MOBOS, MOCHS, MOCKS, MOCOS, MOCUS, MODUS, MOFOS, MOGOS, MOHOS, MOILS, MOJOS, MOKIS, MOKOS, MOKUS, MOLDS, MOLLS, MOLOS, MOLYS, MOMOS, MOMUS, MONGS, MONKS, MONOS, MOOBS, MOODS, MOOKS, MOOLS, MOONS, MOOPS, MOPUS, MOSKS, MOUFS, MOULS, MOUPS, MOYLS, MOZOS, MUCKS, MUCUS, MUFFS, MUGGS, MUGOS, MUIDS, MUILS, MULLS, MUMMS, MUMPS, MUMUS, MUNDS, MUNGS, MUNIS, MUNJS, MUONS, MUSHY, MUSIC, MUSKS, MUSKY, MUSOS, MYONS, MYOPS, MYSID, MYXOS, NICKS, NIDUS, NIFFS, NIGHS, NILLS, NIMBS, NIMPS, NISIN, NISUS, NMOLS, NOCKS, NODUS, NOGGS, NOILS, NOLLS, NOLOS, NOMOS, NONGS, NONIS, NOOBS, NOOIS, NOOKS, NOONS, NOOPS, NOSHI, NOUGS, NOULS, NOUNS, NOUPS, NOWDS, NOWLS, NUFFS, NULLS, NUMBS, NUMPS, NUNKS, NUNUS, OBBOS, OBOLS, ODUMS, ODYLS, OICKS, OINKS, OLIOS, OMBUS, OMOVS, OMULS, ONCUS, ONKUS, OOIDS, OPPOS, OPSIN, OSKIN, OSLIN, OSMIC, OSMOL, OULKS, OUPHS, OUZOS, OXIDS, OXIMS, PHONS, PHUBS, PICKS, PIKIS, PILIS, PILLS, PILUS, PIMPS, PINDS, PINGS, PINKS, PIONS, PIOUS, PIOYS, PIPIS, PISCO, PISKY, PISOS, PIUMS, PIVOS, PLIGS, PLIMS, PLIPS, PLODS, PLOPS, PLOWS, PLOYS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUMS, PLUPS, POCKS, PODOS, PODUS, POGOS, POLIS, POLKS, POLLS, POLOS, POLYS, POMOS, POMPS, PONDS, PONGS, PONKS, POODS, POOFS, POOHS, POOKS, POOLS, POONS, POOPS, POPOS, POSHO, POSOL, POUFS, POUIS, POUKS, POVOS, POWIS, POWNS, PSION, PSYCH, PSYOP, PUBIS, PUCKS, PUDUS, PUFFS, PUKUS, PULIS, PULKS, PULLS, PULPS, PULUS, PUMPS, PUNGS, PUNKS, PUPUS, PUSHY, PYINS, PYXIS, QOPHS, QUIBS, QUIDS, QUIMS, QUINS, QUIPS, QUODS, QUOIS, QUOPS, QUOYS, SCHIF, SCHMO, SCHUL, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SCLIM, SCODY, SCOFF, SCOGS, SCOLD, SCOOG, SCOOP, SCOPS, SCOUG, SCOUP, SCOWL, SCOWP, SCOWS, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUDS, SCUFF, SCUGS, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCULS, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCUZZ, SHCHI, SHILL, SHILY, SHIMS, SHINS, SHINY, SHIOK, SHIPS, SHIVS, SHLUB, SHOCK, SHOGI, SHOGS, SHOJI, SHOJO, SHONK, SHOOK, SHOOL, SHOON, SHOOS, SHOPS, SHOUD, SHOWD, SHOWN, SHOWS, SHOWY, SHOYU, SHUCK, SHULN, SHULS, SHUNS, SHYLY, SIBBS, SIBYL, SICKO, SICKS, SICKY, SIGHS, SIGIL, SIGNS, SIJOS, SILDS, SILKS, SILKY, SILLS, SILLY, SILOS, SIMIS, SIMPS, SIMUL, SINDS, SINGS, SINHS, SINKS, SINKY, SINUS, SIPPY, SIXMO, SKIDS, SKIFF, SKILL, SKIMO, SKIMP, SKIMS, SKINK, SKINS, SKIOS, SKIPS, SKIVY, SKLIM, SKODY, SKOFF, SKOFS, SKOGS, SKOLS, SKOOL, SKUGS, SKULK, SKULL, SKUNK, SKYFS, SLICK, SLILY, SLIMS, SLIMY, SLING, SLINK, SLIPS, SLOBS, SLOGS, SLOID, SLOJD, SLOMO, SLOOM, SLOOP, SLOPS, SLOPY, SLOWS, SLOYD, SLUBB, SLUBS, SLUFF, SLUGS, SLUMP, SLUMS, SLUNG, SLUNK, SLYLY, SMICK, SMILY, SMOCK, SMOGS, SMOKO, SMOKY, SMUGS, SNIBS, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIGS, SNIPS, SNIPY, SNOBS, SNODS, SNOGS, SNOOD, SNOOK, SNOOL, SNOOP, SNOWK, SNOWS, SNOWY, SNUBS, SNUCK, SNUFF, SNUGS, SOCKO, SOCKS, SODDY, SODIC, SODOM, SOGGY, SOILS, SOILY, SOJUS, SOKOL, SOLDI, SOLDO, SOLDS, SOLID, SOLON, SOLOS, SOLUM, SOLUS, SONGO, SONGS, SONGY, SONIC, SONLY, SONNY, SOOKS, SOOKY, SOOLS, SOOMS, SOOPS, SOPHS, SOPHY, SOPPY, SOUGH, SOUKS, SOULS, SOULY, SOUMS, SOUND, SOUPS, SOUPY, SOWFF, SOWFS, SOWLS, SOWMS, SOWND, SOWPS, SOYUZ, SOZIN, SPICK, SPICS, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIFS, SPIKS, SPIKY, SPILL, SPIMS, SPINK, SPINS, SPINY, SPIVS, SPLOG, SPODS, SPOIL, SPOOF, SPOOK, SPOOL, SPOOM, SPOON, SPUDS, SPUGS, SPUMY, SPUNK, SQUIB, SQUID, SQUIZ, SUBBY, SUCCI, SUCKS, SUCKY, SUDDS, SUGHS, SUGOS, SUIDS, SUING, SUKHS, SUKIS, SUKUK, SULCI, SULFO, SULKS, SULKY, SULLS, SULLY, SULPH, SULUS, SUMIS, SUMOS, SUMPH, SUMPS, SUNIS, SUNKS, SUNNS, SUNNY, SUNUP, SUSHI, SUSUS, SWIGS, SWILL, SWIMS, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ, SWOBS, SWOLL, SWOLN, SWOON, SWOOP, SWOPS, SWOUN, SWUNG, SYBIL, SYBOW, SYCON, SYLIS, SYLPH, SYNCH, SYNCS, SYNDS, SYNOD, SYPHS, SYSOP, UDONS, ULMOS, UMBOS, UMPHS, UNCOS, UNCUS, UNDOS, UNIOS, UNSOD, UNSUB, UPDOS, USING, USNIC, VICUS, VIFFS, VILLS, VINOS, VIOLS, VISON, VIVOS, VLOGS, VOIDS, VOIPS, VOLKS, VUGGS, VUGHS, VULNS, WHIDS, WHIGS, WHIMS, WHINS, WHIOS, WHIPS, WHOPS, WHOWS, WHUPS, WICKS, WIKIS, WILDS, WILIS, WILLS, WIMPS, WINDS, WINGS, WINKS, WINNS, WINOS, WISPS, WISPY, WOCKS, WOJUS, WOLDS, WOLFS, WOMBS, WONKS, WOODS, WOOFS, WOOLS, WOONS, WOOPS, WUDUS, WUFFS, WULLS, WUSHU, WYNDS, WYNNS, XOLOS, YILLS, YLIDS, YOCKS, YODHS, YOGHS, YOGIS, YOLKS, YOLPS, YOMPS, YONIS, YONKS, YOOFS, YOOPS, YOPOS, YOUKS, YOWLS, YOYOS, YUCKS, YUKOS, YUMPS, YUZUS, ZIFFS, ZILLS, ZIMBS, ZINCS, ZINGS, ZINOS, ZOBOS, ZOBUS, ZONKS, ZOOKS, ZOOMS, ZOONS, ZOUKS, ZULUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test MUILS against the 1,136 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,136 before → 21 after. This feedback leaves 21 candidates.

    All 21 surviving candidates

    PSION, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SHINY, SHIOK, SKIFF, SKINK, SKIVY, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIPY, SPICK, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIKY, SPINK, SPINY, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 20.33. Information: 4.339 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test SPINK against the 21 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    SKIFF, SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.999. Information: 1.896 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

    2 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.688 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 5 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 → 1,136 after. This feedback leaves 1,136 candidates.

    All 1,136 surviving candidates

    BIBBS, BIBIS, BIDIS, BIFFS, BIGGS, BIGOS, BILKS, BILLS, BINDS, BINGS, BINKS, BIOGS, BIONS, BISKS, BISOM, BISON, BLINS, BLIPS, BLOBS, BLOCS, BLOGS, BLOWS, BLUBS, BLUDS, BOBOS, BOCKS, BOFFS, BOGUS, BOHOS, BOILS, BOKOS, BOLDS, BOLKS, BOLLS, BOLOS, BOLUS, BOMBS, BONDS, BONGS, BONKS, BONUS, BOOBS, BOOHS, BOOKS, BOOLS, BOOMS, BOONS, BOSKS, BOSKY, BOSOM, BOSON, BOSUN, BOUKS, BOUNS, BOWLS, BOYFS, BOYGS, BOYOS, BOZOS, BUBUS, BUCKS, BUDIS, BUDOS, BUFFS, BUFOS, BUHLS, BUIKS, BUKOS, BULBS, BULKS, BULLS, BUMFS, BUMPS, BUNDS, BUNGS, BUNKS, BUNNS, BUOYS, BUSBY, BUSHY, BUSKS, BUSKY, CHIBS, CHICS, CHIKS, CHINS, CHIPS, CHIVS, CHOCS, CHOGS, CHONS, CHOPS, CHOWS, CHUBS, CHUGS, CHUMS, CILLS, CINQS, CIONS, CISCO, CLIPS, CLODS, CLOGS, CLONS, CLOPS, CLOUS, CLOWS, CLOYS, CLUBS, COBBS, COCKS, COCOS, COCUS, COFFS, COHOS, COIFS, COILS, COINS, COLDS, COLLS, COMBS, COMMS, COMPS, COMUS, CONFS, CONKS, CONNS, CONUS, COOFS, COOKS, COOLS, COOMS, COONS, COOPS, COUPS, COWKS, COWLS, COWPS, CUCKS, CUFFS, CUIFS, CULLS, CULMS, CUSHY, CUSKS, CUSPS, CUSPY, CUSUM, DHOLS, DHOWS, DIBBS, DICKS, DIDIS, DIDOS, DIFFS, DILLS, DIMPS, DINGS, DINKS, DINOS, DIOLS, DISCI, DISCO, DISCS, DISHY, DISKS, DIVIS, DIVOS, DJINS, DOCKS, DOCOS, DOCUS, DODOS, DOFFS, DOJOS, DOLLS, DOLOS, DONGS, DOOBS, DOOFS, DOOKS, DOOLS, DOOMS, DOUCS, DOUKS, DOUMS, DOUPS, DOWDS, DOWFS, DOWLS, DOWNS, DOWPS, DSOBO, DSOMO, DUCKS, DUFFS, DUFUS, DULLS, DUMBS, DUMPS, DUNGS, DUNKS, DUSKS, DUSKY, DYNOS, DZHOS, FICOS, FICUS, FIDOS, FIDUS, FIFIS, FIGOS, FILKS, FILLS, FILMS, FILOS, FINDS, FINIS, FINKS, FINOS, FIQHS, FISCS, FISHO, FISHY, FISKS, FLICS, FLIMS, FLIPS, FLOBS, FLOCS, FLOGS, FLOPS, FLOWS, FLUBS, FOCUS, FOGOS, FOHNS, FOIDS, FOILS, FOINS, FOLDS, FOLKS, FONDS, FOODS, FOOLS, FOUDS, FOULS, FOWLS, FUCKS, FUCUS, FUFFS, FUGIS, FUGUS, FUJIS, FULLS, FUNDS, FUNGS, FUNIS, FUNKS, FUSIL, FUSKS, GIBUS, GILDS, GILLS, GIMPS, GINGS, GINKS, GISMO, GISMS, GLIBS, GLIMS, GLOBS, GLOMS, GLOPS, GLOWS, GLUGS, GLUMS, GNOWS, GOBIS, GOBOS, GOFFS, GOGOS, GOJIS, GOLDS, GOLFS, GOLPS, GONGS, GONKS, GONYS, GOODS, GOOFS, GOOGS, GOOKS, GOOLS, GOONS, GOOPS, GOUKS, GOWDS, GOWFS, GOWKS, GOWLS, GOWNS, GUCKS, GUFFS, GUIDS, GULFS, GULLS, GULPS, GUMPS, GUNKS, GUSHY, GUSLI, GYMPS, GYNOS, GYPOS, HICKS, HIFIS, HIGHS, HILLS, HILUS, HINDS, HINGS, HIOIS, HOBOS, HOCKS, HOCUS, HOGGS, HOGHS, HOGOS, HOIKS, HOKIS, HOLDS, HOLKS, HOLMS, HOLOS, HOMOS, HONDS, HONGS, HONKS, HOODS, HOOFS, HOOKS, HOONS, HOOPS, HOUFS, HOWFS, HOWKS, HOWLS, HUCKS, HUFFS, HUHUS, HULKS, HULLS, HUMFS, HUMPS, HUMUS, HUNKS, HUSHY, HUSKS, HUSKY, HUSOS, HWYLS, HYMNS, HYPOS, HYSON, ICONS, IDLIS, IDOLS, IDYLS, IGLUS, IGNIS, IIWIS, IKONS, IMBOS, IMIDS, IMLIS, IMPIS, IMSHI, IMSHY, INCUS, INFOS, INSPO, JHILS, JIBBS, JIFFS, JILLS, JINGS, JINKS, JINNS, JISMS, JOCKS, JOCOS, JOHNS, JOINS, JOLLS, JOMOS, JONGS, JOOKS, JOUGS, JOUKS, JOWLS, JUCOS, JUDOS, JUJUS, JUKUS, JUMPS, JUNKS, KHUDS, KICKS, KILLS, KILNS, KILOS, KILPS, KINDS, KINGS, KINKS, KINOS, KIPPS, KIWIS, KLIKS, KNOBS, KNOPS, KNOWS, KNUBS, KOBOS, KOFFS, KOHLS, KOJIS, KOLOS, KONKS, KOOKS, KOPHS, KUDOS, KUDUS, KUFIS, KUKUS, KUMIS, KUMYS, KUNDS, KUZUS, KYBOS, KYNDS, LICKS, LIDOS, LILLS, LILOS, LIMBS, LIMNS, LIMOS, LIMPS, LINDS, LINGS, LINKS, LINNS, LINOS, LIONS, LIPOS, LISKS, LISPS, LOBOS, LOBUS, LOCHS, LOCIS, LOCKS, LOCOS, LOCUS, LOGOS, LOIDS, LOINS, LOLLS, LOLOS, LONGS, LOOFS, LOOKS, LOOMS, LOONS, LOOPS, LOUIS, LOUNS, LOUPS, LOWNS, LOWPS, LUCKS, LUDOS, LUFFS, LULLS, LULUS, LUMPS, LUNGS, LUNKS, LUPUS, LUSHY, LUSKS, LUSUS, LYSIN, LYSIS, LYSOL, MICKS, MICOS, MIDIS, MIFFS, MIGGS, MIHIS, MIKOS, MILDS, MILFS, MILKS, MILLS, MILOS, MIMIS, MINDS, MINGS, MINIS, MINKS, MINOS, MINUS, MISCH, MISDO, MISGO, MISKY, MISLS, MISOS, MIXIS, MOBOS, MOCHS, MOCKS, MOCOS, MOCUS, MODUS, MOFOS, MOGOS, MOHOS, MOILS, MOJOS, MOKIS, MOKOS, MOKUS, MOLDS, MOLLS, MOLOS, MOLYS, MOMOS, MOMUS, MONGS, MONKS, MONOS, MOOBS, MOODS, MOOKS, MOOLS, MOONS, MOOPS, MOPUS, MOSKS, MOUFS, MOULS, MOUPS, MOYLS, MOZOS, MUCKS, MUCUS, MUFFS, MUGGS, MUGOS, MUIDS, MUILS, MULLS, MUMMS, MUMPS, MUMUS, MUNDS, MUNGS, MUNIS, MUNJS, MUONS, MUSHY, MUSIC, MUSKS, MUSKY, MUSOS, MYONS, MYOPS, MYSID, MYXOS, NICKS, NIDUS, NIFFS, NIGHS, NILLS, NIMBS, NIMPS, NISIN, NISUS, NMOLS, NOCKS, NODUS, NOGGS, NOILS, NOLLS, NOLOS, NOMOS, NONGS, NONIS, NOOBS, NOOIS, NOOKS, NOONS, NOOPS, NOSHI, NOUGS, NOULS, NOUNS, NOUPS, NOWDS, NOWLS, NUFFS, NULLS, NUMBS, NUMPS, NUNKS, NUNUS, OBBOS, OBOLS, ODUMS, ODYLS, OICKS, OINKS, OLIOS, OMBUS, OMOVS, OMULS, ONCUS, ONKUS, OOIDS, OPPOS, OPSIN, OSKIN, OSLIN, OSMIC, OSMOL, OULKS, OUPHS, OUZOS, OXIDS, OXIMS, PHONS, PHUBS, PICKS, PIKIS, PILIS, PILLS, PILUS, PIMPS, PINDS, PINGS, PINKS, PIONS, PIOUS, PIOYS, PIPIS, PISCO, PISKY, PISOS, PIUMS, PIVOS, PLIGS, PLIMS, PLIPS, PLODS, PLOPS, PLOWS, PLOYS, PLUDS, PLUGS, PLUMS, PLUPS, POCKS, PODOS, PODUS, POGOS, POLIS, POLKS, POLLS, POLOS, POLYS, POMOS, POMPS, PONDS, PONGS, PONKS, POODS, POOFS, POOHS, POOKS, POOLS, POONS, POOPS, POPOS, POSHO, POSOL, POUFS, POUIS, POUKS, POVOS, POWIS, POWNS, PSION, PSYCH, PSYOP, PUBIS, PUCKS, PUDUS, PUFFS, PUKUS, PULIS, PULKS, PULLS, PULPS, PULUS, PUMPS, PUNGS, PUNKS, PUPUS, PUSHY, PYINS, PYXIS, QOPHS, QUIBS, QUIDS, QUIMS, QUINS, QUIPS, QUODS, QUOIS, QUOPS, QUOYS, SCHIF, SCHMO, SCHUL, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SCLIM, SCODY, SCOFF, SCOGS, SCOLD, SCOOG, SCOOP, SCOPS, SCOUG, SCOUP, SCOWL, SCOWP, SCOWS, SCUDI, SCUDO, SCUDS, SCUFF, SCUGS, SCULK, SCULL, SCULP, SCULS, SCUMS, SCUPS, SCUZZ, SHCHI, SHILL, SHILY, SHIMS, SHINS, SHINY, SHIOK, SHIPS, SHIVS, SHLUB, SHOCK, SHOGI, SHOGS, SHOJI, SHOJO, SHONK, SHOOK, SHOOL, SHOON, SHOOS, SHOPS, SHOUD, SHOWD, SHOWN, SHOWS, SHOWY, SHOYU, SHUCK, SHULN, SHULS, SHUNS, SHYLY, SIBBS, SIBYL, SICKO, SICKS, SICKY, SIGHS, SIGIL, SIGNS, SIJOS, SILDS, SILKS, SILKY, SILLS, SILLY, SILOS, SIMIS, SIMPS, SIMUL, SINDS, SINGS, SINHS, SINKS, SINKY, SINUS, SIPPY, SIXMO, SKIDS, SKIFF, SKILL, SKIMO, SKIMP, SKIMS, SKINK, SKINS, SKIOS, SKIPS, SKIVY, SKLIM, SKODY, SKOFF, SKOFS, SKOGS, SKOLS, SKOOL, SKUGS, SKULK, SKULL, SKUNK, SKYFS, SLICK, SLILY, SLIMS, SLIMY, SLING, SLINK, SLIPS, SLOBS, SLOGS, SLOID, SLOJD, SLOMO, SLOOM, SLOOP, SLOPS, SLOPY, SLOWS, SLOYD, SLUBB, SLUBS, SLUFF, SLUGS, SLUMP, SLUMS, SLUNG, SLUNK, SLYLY, SMICK, SMILY, SMOCK, SMOGS, SMOKO, SMOKY, SMUGS, SNIBS, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIGS, SNIPS, SNIPY, SNOBS, SNODS, SNOGS, SNOOD, SNOOK, SNOOL, SNOOP, SNOWK, SNOWS, SNOWY, SNUBS, SNUCK, SNUFF, SNUGS, SOCKO, SOCKS, SODDY, SODIC, SODOM, SOGGY, SOILS, SOILY, SOJUS, SOKOL, SOLDI, SOLDO, SOLDS, SOLID, SOLON, SOLOS, SOLUM, SOLUS, SONGO, SONGS, SONGY, SONIC, SONLY, SONNY, SOOKS, SOOKY, SOOLS, SOOMS, SOOPS, SOPHS, SOPHY, SOPPY, SOUGH, SOUKS, SOULS, SOULY, SOUMS, SOUND, SOUPS, SOUPY, SOWFF, SOWFS, SOWLS, SOWMS, SOWND, SOWPS, SOYUZ, SOZIN, SPICK, SPICS, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIFS, SPIKS, SPIKY, SPILL, SPIMS, SPINK, SPINS, SPINY, SPIVS, SPLOG, SPODS, SPOIL, SPOOF, SPOOK, SPOOL, SPOOM, SPOON, SPUDS, SPUGS, SPUMY, SPUNK, SQUIB, SQUID, SQUIZ, SUBBY, SUCCI, SUCKS, SUCKY, SUDDS, SUGHS, SUGOS, SUIDS, SUING, SUKHS, SUKIS, SUKUK, SULCI, SULFO, SULKS, SULKY, SULLS, SULLY, SULPH, SULUS, SUMIS, SUMOS, SUMPH, SUMPS, SUNIS, SUNKS, SUNNS, SUNNY, SUNUP, SUSHI, SUSUS, SWIGS, SWILL, SWIMS, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ, SWOBS, SWOLL, SWOLN, SWOON, SWOOP, SWOPS, SWOUN, SWUNG, SYBIL, SYBOW, SYCON, SYLIS, SYLPH, SYNCH, SYNCS, SYNDS, SYNOD, SYPHS, SYSOP, UDONS, ULMOS, UMBOS, UMPHS, UNCOS, UNCUS, UNDOS, UNIOS, UNSOD, UNSUB, UPDOS, USING, USNIC, VICUS, VIFFS, VILLS, VINOS, VIOLS, VISON, VIVOS, VLOGS, VOIDS, VOIPS, VOLKS, VUGGS, VUGHS, VULNS, WHIDS, WHIGS, WHIMS, WHINS, WHIOS, WHIPS, WHOPS, WHOWS, WHUPS, WICKS, WIKIS, WILDS, WILIS, WILLS, WIMPS, WINDS, WINGS, WINKS, WINNS, WINOS, WISPS, WISPY, WOCKS, WOJUS, WOLDS, WOLFS, WOMBS, WONKS, WOODS, WOOFS, WOOLS, WOONS, WOOPS, WUDUS, WUFFS, WULLS, WUSHU, WYNDS, WYNNS, XOLOS, YILLS, YLIDS, YOCKS, YODHS, YOGHS, YOGIS, YOLKS, YOLPS, YOMPS, YONIS, YONKS, YOOFS, YOOPS, YOPOS, YOUKS, YOWLS, YOYOS, YUCKS, YUKOS, YUMPS, YUZUS, ZIFFS, ZILLS, ZIMBS, ZINCS, ZINGS, ZINOS, ZOBOS, ZOBUS, ZONKS, ZOOKS, ZOOMS, ZOONS, ZOUKS, ZULUS

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test MUILS against the 1,136 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    1,136 before → 21 after. This feedback leaves 21 candidates.

    All 21 surviving candidates

    PSION, SCIFI, SCIND, SCION, SHINY, SHIOK, SKIFF, SKINK, SKIVY, SNICK, SNIFF, SNIPY, SPICK, SPICY, SPIFF, SPIKY, SPINK, SPINY, SWING, SWINK, SWIZZ

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 20.33. Information: 4.339 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  3. Test SPINK against the 21 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    SKIFF, SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.999. Information: 1.896 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

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

    2 before → 1 after. This feedback leaves 1 candidate.

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.688 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SKIVY

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.0. Information: 0.0 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

Solved in 5 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 4.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)113655
CRANE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)178755
SLATE20000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)2876Not solved in six
ADIEU00200 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)41066
STARE20000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)3156Not solved in six
AUDIO00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)138766
RAISE00210 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)17444
ROATE00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)103155
SALET20000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)2876Not solved in six
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 1 · 5 guesses: 3 · 6 guesses: 5 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 1 · 5 guesses: 3 · 6 guesses: 2 · Failed in six: 3

The nine openers use the same pool and continuation policy. Across both modes: 4–6 guesses among successes; 3 of 18 configurations failed. This is performance on this answer, not an overall opener ranking.

53 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include SAVES, RISKY, MILKY, NICKY, PINKY, KINKY, PICKY, SILKY, MICKY, SPIKY. 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: SKIFF, SKIVY. 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: SKIFF, SKIVY.

A lesson from this route

Before SKIFF, 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

SKIVY can come back 63 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

793 answers
244 answers
205 answers
194 answers
158 answers
138 answers
92 answers
49 answers
40 answers
38 answers
38 answers
35 answers
34 answers
32 answers
29 answers
28 answers
26 answers
25 answers
21 answers
18 answers
17 answers
16 answers
10 answers
7 answers
5 answers
5 answers
5 answers
5 answers
5 answers
4 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

S1K5I1V4Y4
Total: 15 points

Words With Friends

Total: 15 points

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

Try next

ROATE RONTE DROLE PEART GRATE CARLE

Strategy after playing SKIVY

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing SKIVY:

33% chance
Suggested:
ROATE
10% chance
Suggested:
RONTE
9% chance
Suggested:
DROLE

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

33.2% →
ROATE 6.14 bits
10.2% →
RONTE 5.32 bits
8.6% →
DROLE 4.88 bits
8.1% →
PEART 5.40 bits
6.6% →
ROATE 5.46 bits
5.8% →
GRATE 5.01 bits
3.8% →
CARLE 5.36 bits
2.0% →
VALOR 4.93 bits
1.7% →
LEANT 3.93 bits
1.6% →
LAYER 4.68 bits

Research on SKIVY

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

Optimal play

Opening with SKIVY, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.84 guesses and ranks #12,190 of 14,855 legal openers. The best proven opener, TARSE, averages 3.55.

In hard mode it averages 4.00 guesses at best and is rank #6,207 of the 7,453 openers that can still guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.81, at or below the proven-optimal 3.84, 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).