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

SMEES

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Noun

plural of smee

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

Use SMEES in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 85.0% of possible answers.

Open Solver with SMEES 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 SMEES performs as a guess

Wordle accepts SMEES 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 67.5% of games, misses completely in 32.5%, and leaves about 359 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #13,900 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.89 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___S S in the 1st position and S in the 5th position S__E_ S in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _M__S M in the 2nd position and S in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe SMEES 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.

3.74 Entropy (bits)
359 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
85.0% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How SMEES 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.

3.89 Avg guesses
99.79% Solved within six
0.72 Spread of game lengths
#13,900 Rank among openers
Opening with SMEES left 5 of the snapshot's answers unsolved after six guesses. A spread of 0.72 means those games clustered within about 0.72 of a guess of the 3.89 average. It ranks #13,900 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
36
3 guesses
608
4 guesses
1,307
5 guesses
367
6 guesses
31

Composition

3/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
ES

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
68%
Green tile
35%
All gray
32%

When SMEES is useful later

SMEES 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, SMEES 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, SMEES 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 ROATE: 3 candidates, normal mode

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

AWNER: 10011 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

ZEBRA: 01012 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: CREMA, ERICA, PRESA.

With a budget of 3 more guesses, SMEES 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 SMEES

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 → 188 after. This feedback leaves 188 candidates.

    All 188 surviving candidates

    BESES, BEZES, BLEES, BLUES, BOKES, BOLES, BOWES, BOXES, BUKES, BUSES, BYKES, CEPES, CLUES, COKES, COLES, COMES, COPES, COSES, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUZES, CYMES, ECHES, ELVES, EPEES, EQUES, ESSES, FECES, FEMES, FEZES, FLEES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FOXES, FUMES, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GHEES, GLEES, GLUES, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HELES, HEMES, HEXES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HOPES, HOSES, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HULES, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, JEFES, JOBES, JOKES, JOLES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KEXES, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEGES, LEMES, LESES, LEVES, LEXES, LEZES, LOBES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUGES, LUXES, LYMES, LYSES, MELES, MEMES, MESES, MEVES, MEZES, MOBES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSES, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OLPES, OMEES, OOSES, OOZES, PEKES, PELES, PLUES, POKES, POLES, POMES, POPES, POSES, POXES, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYXES, SCYES, SELES, SEMES, SEXES, SEZES, SHOES, SKEES, SLOES, SLUES, SMEES, SOCES, SOKES, SOLES, SOXES, SPUES, SUPES, SUSES, SWEES, SYCES, SYKES, SYPES, VEGES, VELES, VEVES, VEXES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEXES, WUSES, WYLES, YESES, YEVES, YEXES, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test COLES against the 188 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    188 before → 66 after. This feedback leaves 66 candidates.

    All 66 surviving candidates

    BESES, BEZES, BUKES, BUSES, BYKES, EPEES, EQUES, ESSES, FEMES, FEZES, FUMES, FUSES, FUZES, FYKES, GHEES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HEMES, HEXES, HYKES, HYPES, JEFES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KEXES, KYPES, MEMES, MESES, MEVES, MEZES, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, PEKES, PUBES, PUKES, PUSES, PYXES, SEMES, SEXES, SEZES, SKEES, SMEES, SPUES, SUPES, SUSES, SWEES, SYKES, SYPES, VEGES, VEVES, VEXES, WEXES, WUSES, YESES, YEVES, YEXES, YMPES, YUKES, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.776. Information: 2.282 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test YESES against the 66 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    SKEES, SMEES, SWEES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 9.333. Information: 3.249 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test SKEES against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    SMEES, SWEES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.667. Information: 0.918 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test SMEES against the 2 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SMEES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 6 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 6.

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 → 188 after. This feedback leaves 188 candidates.

    All 188 surviving candidates

    BESES, BEZES, BLEES, BLUES, BOKES, BOLES, BOWES, BOXES, BUKES, BUSES, BYKES, CEPES, CLUES, COKES, COLES, COMES, COPES, COSES, COVES, COXES, COZES, CUBES, CUKES, CUZES, CYMES, ECHES, ELVES, EPEES, EQUES, ESSES, FECES, FEMES, FEZES, FLEES, FLOES, FLUES, FOMES, FOXES, FUMES, FUSES, FUZES, FYCES, FYKES, FYLES, GHEES, GLEES, GLUES, GOKES, GOLES, GOVES, GOXES, GULES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HELES, HEMES, HEXES, HOKES, HOLES, HOMES, HOPES, HOSES, HOVES, HOWES, HOXES, HULES, HYKES, HYLES, HYPES, JEFES, JOBES, JOKES, JOLES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KEXES, KOSES, KYLES, KYPES, LEGES, LEMES, LESES, LEVES, LEXES, LEZES, LOBES, LOGES, LOKES, LOMES, LOPES, LOSES, LOVES, LOWES, LOXES, LUBES, LUCES, LUGES, LUXES, LYMES, LYSES, MELES, MEMES, MESES, MEVES, MEZES, MOBES, MOKES, MOLES, MOMES, MOPES, MOSES, MOUES, MOVES, MOZES, MULES, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, OBOES, OCHES, OGEES, OGLES, OLPES, OMEES, OOSES, OOZES, PEKES, PELES, PLUES, POKES, POLES, POMES, POPES, POSES, POXES, PUBES, PUCES, PUKES, PULES, PUSES, PYXES, SCYES, SELES, SEMES, SEXES, SEZES, SHOES, SKEES, SLOES, SLUES, SMEES, SOCES, SOKES, SOLES, SOXES, SPUES, SUPES, SUSES, SWEES, SYCES, SYKES, SYPES, VEGES, VELES, VEVES, VEXES, VOCES, VOLES, VOXES, WEXES, WUSES, WYLES, YESES, YEVES, YEXES, YLKES, YMPES, YOKES, YOWES, YUKES, YULES, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test COLES against the 188 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    188 before → 66 after. This feedback leaves 66 candidates.

    All 66 surviving candidates

    BESES, BEZES, BUKES, BUSES, BYKES, EPEES, EQUES, ESSES, FEMES, FEZES, FUMES, FUSES, FUZES, FYKES, GHEES, GYBES, GYPES, GYVES, HEBES, HEMES, HEXES, HYKES, HYPES, JEFES, JUBES, JUKES, JUPES, JUVES, KEXES, KYPES, MEMES, MESES, MEVES, MEZES, MUSES, MUXES, MZEES, PEKES, PUBES, PUKES, PUSES, PYXES, SEMES, SEXES, SEZES, SKEES, SMEES, SPUES, SUPES, SUSES, SWEES, SYKES, SYPES, VEGES, VEVES, VEXES, WEXES, WUSES, YESES, YEVES, YEXES, YMPES, YUKES, ZEXES, ZEZES, ZYMES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 19.776. Information: 2.282 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Test YESES against the 66 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 3 surviving candidates

    SKEES, SMEES, SWEES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 9.333. Information: 3.249 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  5. Test SKEES against the 3 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 2 surviving candidates

    SMEES, SWEES

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.667. Information: 0.918 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  6. Test SMEES against the 2 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    SMEES

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 6 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 6.

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)85366
CRANE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)143366
SLATE20001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)22055
ADIEU00020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75955
STARE20001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)19255
AUDIO00000 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)125146
RAISE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)85244
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116766
SALET20020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)13855
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 2 · 5 guesses: 4 · 6 guesses: 3 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 1 · 5 guesses: 4 · 6 guesses: 4 · Failed in six: 0

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

23 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include SEEMS, STEMS, MEMES, SEAMS, MELES, MERES, METES, STEEM, MENES, SAMES. 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 answer contains 2 copies of S, 2 copies of E. Feedback allocates exact matches before misplaced copies; a grey duplicate does not erase another coloured copy.

The worked board still allows 3 different answers at one later decision: SKEES, SMEES, SWEES. 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: SKEES, SMEES, SWEES.

A lesson from this route

Before SKEES, 3 words still fit. Its feedback left 2; 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

SMEES can come back 61 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

778 answers
362 answers
195 answers
181 answers
144 answers
97 answers
65 answers
61 answers
57 answers
48 answers
36 answers
36 answers
25 answers
24 answers
23 answers
23 answers
16 answers
16 answers
15 answers
15 answers
15 answers
12 answers
11 answers
11 answers
10 answers
9 answers
8 answers
7 answers
6 answers
6 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

S1M3E1E1S1
Total: 7 points

Words With Friends

Total: 8 points

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

Try next

TONAL ROATE RAINY MOLAR TRASH PARTE

Strategy after playing SMEES

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing SMEES:

33% chance
Suggested:
TONAL
15% chance
Suggested:
ROATE
8% chance
Suggested:
RAINY

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

32.5% →
TONAL 5.85 bits
15.1% →
ROATE 5.21 bits
8.2% →
RAINY 4.65 bits
7.6% →
RAINY 4.36 bits
6.0% →
MOLAR 4.93 bits
4.1% →
TRASH 4.92 bits
2.7% →
PARTE 4.00 bits
2.6% →
TREAD 4.62 bits
2.4% →
PARLE 4.31 bits
2.0% →
TIARE 4.50 bits

Research on SMEES

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

Optimal play

Opening with SMEES, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.89 guesses and ranks #13,595 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 SMEES can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.89; proven optimal play reaches 3.89. The fixed strategy accounts for the difference.

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

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