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

ZINEB

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

Meaning and pronunciation

Pronunciation: /ˈzɪnɛb/

Noun

An organic fungicide and insecticide sprayed on cereal grasses, fruit trees, etc.

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

Etymology

From “zinc ethylene bisdithiocarbamate”, its chemical name.

Source: Wiktionary (CC BY-SA)

Use ZINEB in a puzzle

As an opener, it rules out about 89.2% of possible answers.

Open Solver with ZINEB 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 ZINEB performs as a guess

Wordle accepts ZINEB 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 76.4% of games, misses completely in 23.6%, and leaves about 257 possible answers on average.

In the previous complete opener benchmark, it ranks #11,294 of 14,855 openers, averaging 3.79 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.

Z___B Z in the 1st position and B in the 5th position Z__E_ Z in the 1st position and E in the 4th position _I__B I in the 2nd position and B in the 5th position

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

First-turn measures

All four describe ZINEB 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.

4.08 Entropy (bits)
257 Avg remaining
0.0% Exact match
89.2% Avg ruled out

As an opening guess: previous benchmark

How ZINEB 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.

3.79 Avg guesses
99.87% Solved within six
0.69 Spread of game lengths
#11,294 Rank among openers
Opening with ZINEB left 3 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 3.79 average. It ranks #11,294 of 14,855 openers by average guesses in games solved within six.
1 guess
0
2 guesses
39
3 guesses
726
4 guesses
1,287
5 guesses
285
6 guesses
14

Composition

5/5 unique
2 vowels
Common:
EIN

Feedback chances

Any hit (G/Y)
76%
Green tile
25%
All gray
24%

When ZINEB is useful later

ZINEB 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: 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, ZINEB 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, ZINEB 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: 5 candidates, normal mode

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

VACUA: 02001 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

PADAS: 02020 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

KALAM: 02021 (0 = grey, 1 = yellow, 2 = green).

Remaining answers: GAMAY, MABAN, MAYAN, NAMAZ, ZAMAN.

With a budget of 2 more guesses, ZINEB 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 ZINEB

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

Normal mode

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

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 759 after. This feedback leaves 759 candidates.

    All 759 surviving candidates

    BEBOP, BEDEL, BEDEW, BEDIM, BEECH, BEEDI, BEEFY, BEFOG, BEGEM, BEGIN, BEGOB, BEGUM, BEGUN, BEIGY, BEING, BELCH, BELLI, BELLO, BELLY, BELON, BELOW, BEMIX, BEMUD, BENCH, BENDY, BENJI, BENNI, BENNY, BEVEL, BEVVY, BEWDY, BEWIG, BEZEL, BEZIL, BEZZY, BICEP, BIDED, BIELD, BIKED, BILED, BIPED, BLECH, BLEED, BLEEP, BLEND, BLUED, BLUEY, BODED, BOEUF, BOGEY, BOKED, BOKEH, BONED, BONEY, BOOED, BOWED, BOWEL, BOXED, BOXEN, BOYED, BOYEY, BUDED, BYDED, BYKED, CEBID, CECUM, CEDED, CEILI, CELEB, CELLI, CELLO, CELLY, CELOM, CHECK, CHEDI, CHEEB, CHEEK, CHEEP, CHELP, CHEMO, CHEVY, CHEWY, CHIEF, CHIEL, CIDED, CIMEX, CLECK, CLEEK, CLEEP, CLEIK, CLIED, CLUED, CLUEY, CODEC, CODED, CODEN, CODEX, COHEN, COKED, COKEY, COLED, COLEY, CONED, CONEX, CONEY, COOED, COOEY, COPED, COPEN, COVED, COVEN, COVEY, COWED, COXED, COYED, COZED, COZEN, COZEY, CUBEB, CUBED, CULEX, CUMEC, CUNEI, CUPEL, DEBBY, DEBEL, DEBUD, DEBUG, DECIM, DECKO, DECOY, DECYL, DEEDY, DEELY, DEFFO, DEFOG, DEGUM, DEIFY, DEIGN, DEINK, DEKED, DEKKO, DELED, DELLY, DELPH, DEMIC, DEMOB, DEMOI, DEMON, DENCH, DENIM, DEOCH, DEOXY, DEVEL, DEVIL, DEVON, DEWED, DICED, DICEY, DIKED, DIKEY, DINED, DIVED, DIVEY, DIZEN, DOGEY, DOLED, DOLEY, DOMED, DOPED, DOPEY, DOVED, DOVEN, DOWED, DOWEL, DOXED, DOYEN, DOZED, DOZEN, DUDED, DUKED, DUPED, DWEEB, DWELL, DYKED, DYKEY, DYNEL, EBBED, EBONY, EBOOK, ECHED, EDGED, EDIFY, EEVEN, EFFED, EGGED, EHING, EIKED, EIKON, EJIDO, EKING, ELBOW, ELCHI, ELDIN, ELEGY, ELEMI, ELFED, ELFIN, ELMEN, ELOGY, ELOIN, ELVEN, EMBED, EMBOG, EMBOW, EMBOX, EMEND, EMMEW, EMOJI, EMONG, ENDED, ENDEW, ENDOW, ENEMY, ENFIX, ENJOY, ENMEW, ENNOG, ENNUI, ENOKI, ENVOI, ENVOY, ENZYM, EOLID, EPHOD, EPOCH, EPOXY, EQUID, EQUIP, EUKED, EWHOW, EWKED, EXCEL, EXEEM, EXFIL, EXING, EXPEL, EYING, FEDEX, FEELY, FEIGN, FELCH, FELID, FELIX, FELLY, FELON, FEMIC, FEMMY, FENDY, FENNY, FEOFF, FEUED, FEYED, FEYLY, FEZZY, FIELD, FIEND, FIFED, FIKED, FILED, FINED, FIXED, FJELD, FLECK, FLEEK, FLEXI, FLEXO, FLIED, FLUED, FLUEY, FOEHN, FOGEY, FOLEY, FOXED, FUMED, FUZED, FYKED, GECKO, GEEKY, GELID, GELLY, GEMEL, GEMMY, GENIC, GENII, GENIN, GENIO, GENIP, GENNY, GENOM, GEOID, GIBED, GIBEL, GIMEL, GIVED, GIVEN, GLEBY, GLEED, GLEEK, GLUED, GLUEY, GOLEM, GONEF, GOOEY, GOVED, GUYED, GYBED, GYELD, GYVED, HEBEN, HEDGY, HEEDY, HEIGH, HELED, HELIO, HELIX, HELLO, HELLY, HEMIC, HEMIN, HEMPY, HENCH, HENNY, HEUCH, HEUGH, HEVEL, HEWED, HEWGH, HEXED, HEXYL, HEYED, HIDED, HIKED, HIPED, HIVED, HIZEN, HOGEN, HOHED, HOIED, HOKED, HOKEY, HOLED, HOLEY, HOMED, HOMEY, HONED, HONEY, HOOEY, HOPED, HOVED, HOVEL, HOVEN, HOXED, HOYED, HYDEL, HYLEG, HYMEN, HYPED, ICHED, IDLED, IGGED, ILEUM, IMBED, IMMEW, IMPED, IMPEL, INCEL, INDEW, INDEX, INKED, INNED, IVIED, JEBEL, JEELY, JELLO, JELLY, JEMMY, JENNY, JEWED, JEWEL, JHEEL, JIBED, JIVED, JIVEY, JOBED, JODEL, JOKED, JOKEY, JOLED, JOWED, JOYED, JUKED, JULEP, KEBOB, KEDGY, KEECH, KEENO, KELEP, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEMBO, KEMPY, KENCH, KENDO, KEVEL, KEVIL, KEYED, KIBEI, KIDEL, KIDEO, KILEY, KLIEG, KNEED, KNEEL, KNELL, KOHEN, KOPEK, KUGEL, KVELL, LEBEN, LECCY, LEDGY, LEDUM, LEECH, LEGGO, LEGGY, LEGNO, LEMED, LEMEL, LEMON, LEPID, LEUCH, LEUCO, LEUGH, LEVEL, LEVIN, LEZZO, LEZZY, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIKED, LIKEN, LIMED, LIMEN, LIMEY, LINED, LINEN, LINEY, LIVED, LIVEN, LOBED, LODEN, LOKEY, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOOEY, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOVEY, LOWED, LOWEN, LOXED, LOZEN, LUBED, LUGED, LUMEN, LUXED, MECUM, MEDIC, MEDII, MEDIN, MEECH, MEIKO, MEINY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, MELON, MEMIC, MENED, MENIL, MEVED, MEWED, MEZZO, MIEUX, MIKED, MIMED, MIMEO, MINED, MIVEY, MIXED, MIXEN, MIZEN, MOBED, MOBEY, MODEL, MODEM, MOENI, MOHEL, MOKEY, MOLED, MOLEY, MONEY, MOOED, MOOEY, MOPED, MOPEY, MOVED, MOWED, MOZED, MULED, MULEY, MUXED, NEBBY, NEBEK, NEBEL, NEDDY, NEEDY, NEELD, NEEMB, NEIGH, NELLY, NEMIC, NEVEL, NEVVY, NEWED, NEWEL, NEWLY, NEXIN, NEXUM, NICED, NICEY, NIDED, NIVEL, NIXED, NODED, NOMEN, NOVEL, NOWED, NOYED, NUEVO, NUKED, NUMEN, OBELI, OBIED, ODEON, ODEUM, OFFED, OGEED, OGLED, OHELO, OILED, OLDEN, OLEIC, OLEIN, OLEUM, OLEYL, OMDEH, OMMEL, ONELY, ONNED, OOHED, OOPED, OOZED, OUPED, OUZEL, OWLED, OWNED, OXMEN, OZEKI, PECKY, PEDON, PEEKY, PEELY, PEEOY, PEEPY, PEEVO, PEGGY, PEKID, PEKIN, PELCH, PELOG, PELON, PENDU, PENED, PENGO, PENNI, PENNY, PEONY, PEPON, PEPPY, PEQUI, PEWED, PHEON, PICEY, PIEND, PIEZO, PIKED, PIKEL, PIKEY, PILED, PILEI, PILEY, PINED, PINEY, PIPED, PIXEL, PIZED, PLECK, PLEEP, PLEIN, PLENO, PLEON, PLEXI, PLIED, PODEX, POGEY, POHED, POKED, POKEY, POLED, POLEY, PONEY, POOED, POOEY, POXED, PUKED, PUKEY, PULED, PUZEL, PWNED, PYNED, PYXED, QUECK, QUEEK, QUEEM, QUEEN, QUELL, QUEYN, QUEYU, UGGED, UMBEL, UMMED, UMPED, UNBED, UNFED, UNKED, UNKEY, UNLED, UNLEG, UNMEW, UNPEG, UNPEN, UNWED, UPEND, UPLED, UPPED, VEGGO, VEILY, VEINY, VELUM, VENDU, VENEY, VENIN, VENOM, VEXED, VEXIL, VIBED, VIBEX, VIBEY, VICED, VIDEO, VIEUX, VIEWY, VIMEN, VINED, VINEW, VIXEN, VOLED, VOWED, VOWEL, VOXEL, WEBBY, WEDEL, WEDGY, WEEDY, WEENY, WEEPY, WEIGH, WELCH, WELLY, WENCH, WENNY, WEXED, WHEEK, WHEEL, WHEEN, WHEEP, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP, WIDEN, WIELD, WIFED, WIFEY, WILED, WINED, WINEY, WIPED, WIVED, WIZEN, WOKEN, WOMEN, WOOED, WOVEN, WOWED, WOXEN, WYLED, XEBEC, XENIC, XENON, XYLEM, YCLED, YECCH, YECHY, YEEEK, YEUCH, YEUKY, YEVEN, YEWEN, YEXED, YIELD, YIKED, YODEL, YOKED, YOKEG, YOKEL, YOWED, YUKED, ZEBEC, ZEBUB, ZENDO, ZINEB, ZIZEL, ZONED, ZOOEY

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test OLDEN against the 759 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    759 before → 12 after. This feedback leaves 12 candidates.

    All 12 surviving candidates

    CUNEI, ENMEW, NEBEK, NICEY, PINEY, UNKEY, UNMEW, UNPEG, VENEY, VINEW, WINEY, ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test WINEY against the 12 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.259. Information: 3.071 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

Continue this board in the Solver

Hard Mode

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

  1. The fixed opener tests its five letters.

    14,855 before → 759 after. This feedback leaves 759 candidates.

    All 759 surviving candidates

    BEBOP, BEDEL, BEDEW, BEDIM, BEECH, BEEDI, BEEFY, BEFOG, BEGEM, BEGIN, BEGOB, BEGUM, BEGUN, BEIGY, BEING, BELCH, BELLI, BELLO, BELLY, BELON, BELOW, BEMIX, BEMUD, BENCH, BENDY, BENJI, BENNI, BENNY, BEVEL, BEVVY, BEWDY, BEWIG, BEZEL, BEZIL, BEZZY, BICEP, BIDED, BIELD, BIKED, BILED, BIPED, BLECH, BLEED, BLEEP, BLEND, BLUED, BLUEY, BODED, BOEUF, BOGEY, BOKED, BOKEH, BONED, BONEY, BOOED, BOWED, BOWEL, BOXED, BOXEN, BOYED, BOYEY, BUDED, BYDED, BYKED, CEBID, CECUM, CEDED, CEILI, CELEB, CELLI, CELLO, CELLY, CELOM, CHECK, CHEDI, CHEEB, CHEEK, CHEEP, CHELP, CHEMO, CHEVY, CHEWY, CHIEF, CHIEL, CIDED, CIMEX, CLECK, CLEEK, CLEEP, CLEIK, CLIED, CLUED, CLUEY, CODEC, CODED, CODEN, CODEX, COHEN, COKED, COKEY, COLED, COLEY, CONED, CONEX, CONEY, COOED, COOEY, COPED, COPEN, COVED, COVEN, COVEY, COWED, COXED, COYED, COZED, COZEN, COZEY, CUBEB, CUBED, CULEX, CUMEC, CUNEI, CUPEL, DEBBY, DEBEL, DEBUD, DEBUG, DECIM, DECKO, DECOY, DECYL, DEEDY, DEELY, DEFFO, DEFOG, DEGUM, DEIFY, DEIGN, DEINK, DEKED, DEKKO, DELED, DELLY, DELPH, DEMIC, DEMOB, DEMOI, DEMON, DENCH, DENIM, DEOCH, DEOXY, DEVEL, DEVIL, DEVON, DEWED, DICED, DICEY, DIKED, DIKEY, DINED, DIVED, DIVEY, DIZEN, DOGEY, DOLED, DOLEY, DOMED, DOPED, DOPEY, DOVED, DOVEN, DOWED, DOWEL, DOXED, DOYEN, DOZED, DOZEN, DUDED, DUKED, DUPED, DWEEB, DWELL, DYKED, DYKEY, DYNEL, EBBED, EBONY, EBOOK, ECHED, EDGED, EDIFY, EEVEN, EFFED, EGGED, EHING, EIKED, EIKON, EJIDO, EKING, ELBOW, ELCHI, ELDIN, ELEGY, ELEMI, ELFED, ELFIN, ELMEN, ELOGY, ELOIN, ELVEN, EMBED, EMBOG, EMBOW, EMBOX, EMEND, EMMEW, EMOJI, EMONG, ENDED, ENDEW, ENDOW, ENEMY, ENFIX, ENJOY, ENMEW, ENNOG, ENNUI, ENOKI, ENVOI, ENVOY, ENZYM, EOLID, EPHOD, EPOCH, EPOXY, EQUID, EQUIP, EUKED, EWHOW, EWKED, EXCEL, EXEEM, EXFIL, EXING, EXPEL, EYING, FEDEX, FEELY, FEIGN, FELCH, FELID, FELIX, FELLY, FELON, FEMIC, FEMMY, FENDY, FENNY, FEOFF, FEUED, FEYED, FEYLY, FEZZY, FIELD, FIEND, FIFED, FIKED, FILED, FINED, FIXED, FJELD, FLECK, FLEEK, FLEXI, FLEXO, FLIED, FLUED, FLUEY, FOEHN, FOGEY, FOLEY, FOXED, FUMED, FUZED, FYKED, GECKO, GEEKY, GELID, GELLY, GEMEL, GEMMY, GENIC, GENII, GENIN, GENIO, GENIP, GENNY, GENOM, GEOID, GIBED, GIBEL, GIMEL, GIVED, GIVEN, GLEBY, GLEED, GLEEK, GLUED, GLUEY, GOLEM, GONEF, GOOEY, GOVED, GUYED, GYBED, GYELD, GYVED, HEBEN, HEDGY, HEEDY, HEIGH, HELED, HELIO, HELIX, HELLO, HELLY, HEMIC, HEMIN, HEMPY, HENCH, HENNY, HEUCH, HEUGH, HEVEL, HEWED, HEWGH, HEXED, HEXYL, HEYED, HIDED, HIKED, HIPED, HIVED, HIZEN, HOGEN, HOHED, HOIED, HOKED, HOKEY, HOLED, HOLEY, HOMED, HOMEY, HONED, HONEY, HOOEY, HOPED, HOVED, HOVEL, HOVEN, HOXED, HOYED, HYDEL, HYLEG, HYMEN, HYPED, ICHED, IDLED, IGGED, ILEUM, IMBED, IMMEW, IMPED, IMPEL, INCEL, INDEW, INDEX, INKED, INNED, IVIED, JEBEL, JEELY, JELLO, JELLY, JEMMY, JENNY, JEWED, JEWEL, JHEEL, JIBED, JIVED, JIVEY, JOBED, JODEL, JOKED, JOKEY, JOLED, JOWED, JOYED, JUKED, JULEP, KEBOB, KEDGY, KEECH, KEENO, KELEP, KELIM, KELLY, KELPY, KEMBO, KEMPY, KENCH, KENDO, KEVEL, KEVIL, KEYED, KIBEI, KIDEL, KIDEO, KILEY, KLIEG, KNEED, KNEEL, KNELL, KOHEN, KOPEK, KUGEL, KVELL, LEBEN, LECCY, LEDGY, LEDUM, LEECH, LEGGO, LEGGY, LEGNO, LEMED, LEMEL, LEMON, LEPID, LEUCH, LEUCO, LEUGH, LEVEL, LEVIN, LEZZO, LEZZY, LIBEL, LIFEY, LIKED, LIKEN, LIMED, LIMEN, LIMEY, LINED, LINEN, LINEY, LIVED, LIVEN, LOBED, LODEN, LOKEY, LOLED, LOMED, LOOED, LOOEY, LOPED, LOUED, LOVED, LOVEY, LOWED, LOWEN, LOXED, LOZEN, LUBED, LUGED, LUMEN, LUXED, MECUM, MEDIC, MEDII, MEDIN, MEECH, MEIKO, MEINY, MELCH, MELIC, MELIK, MELON, MEMIC, MENED, MENIL, MEVED, MEWED, MEZZO, MIEUX, MIKED, MIMED, MIMEO, MINED, MIVEY, MIXED, MIXEN, MIZEN, MOBED, MOBEY, MODEL, MODEM, MOENI, MOHEL, MOKEY, MOLED, MOLEY, MONEY, MOOED, MOOEY, MOPED, MOPEY, MOVED, MOWED, MOZED, MULED, MULEY, MUXED, NEBBY, NEBEK, NEBEL, NEDDY, NEEDY, NEELD, NEEMB, NEIGH, NELLY, NEMIC, NEVEL, NEVVY, NEWED, NEWEL, NEWLY, NEXIN, NEXUM, NICED, NICEY, NIDED, NIVEL, NIXED, NODED, NOMEN, NOVEL, NOWED, NOYED, NUEVO, NUKED, NUMEN, OBELI, OBIED, ODEON, ODEUM, OFFED, OGEED, OGLED, OHELO, OILED, OLDEN, OLEIC, OLEIN, OLEUM, OLEYL, OMDEH, OMMEL, ONELY, ONNED, OOHED, OOPED, OOZED, OUPED, OUZEL, OWLED, OWNED, OXMEN, OZEKI, PECKY, PEDON, PEEKY, PEELY, PEEOY, PEEPY, PEEVO, PEGGY, PEKID, PEKIN, PELCH, PELOG, PELON, PENDU, PENED, PENGO, PENNI, PENNY, PEONY, PEPON, PEPPY, PEQUI, PEWED, PHEON, PICEY, PIEND, PIEZO, PIKED, PIKEL, PIKEY, PILED, PILEI, PILEY, PINED, PINEY, PIPED, PIXEL, PIZED, PLECK, PLEEP, PLEIN, PLENO, PLEON, PLEXI, PLIED, PODEX, POGEY, POHED, POKED, POKEY, POLED, POLEY, PONEY, POOED, POOEY, POXED, PUKED, PUKEY, PULED, PUZEL, PWNED, PYNED, PYXED, QUECK, QUEEK, QUEEM, QUEEN, QUELL, QUEYN, QUEYU, UGGED, UMBEL, UMMED, UMPED, UNBED, UNFED, UNKED, UNKEY, UNLED, UNLEG, UNMEW, UNPEG, UNPEN, UNWED, UPEND, UPLED, UPPED, VEGGO, VEILY, VEINY, VELUM, VENDU, VENEY, VENIN, VENOM, VEXED, VEXIL, VIBED, VIBEX, VIBEY, VICED, VIDEO, VIEUX, VIEWY, VIMEN, VINED, VINEW, VIXEN, VOLED, VOWED, VOWEL, VOXEL, WEBBY, WEDEL, WEDGY, WEEDY, WEENY, WEEPY, WEIGH, WELCH, WELLY, WENCH, WENNY, WEXED, WHEEK, WHEEL, WHEEN, WHEEP, WHELK, WHELM, WHELP, WIDEN, WIELD, WIFED, WIFEY, WILED, WINED, WINEY, WIPED, WIVED, WIZEN, WOKEN, WOMEN, WOOED, WOVEN, WOWED, WOXEN, WYLED, XEBEC, XENIC, XENON, XYLEM, YCLED, YECCH, YECHY, YEEEK, YEUCH, YEUKY, YEVEN, YEWEN, YEXED, YIELD, YIKED, YODEL, YOKED, YOKEG, YOKEL, YOWED, YUKED, ZEBEC, ZEBUB, ZENDO, ZINEB, ZIZEL, ZONED, ZOOEY

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  2. Test OLDEN against the 759 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

    759 before → 12 after. This feedback leaves 12 candidates.

    All 12 surviving candidates

    CUNEI, ENMEW, NEBEK, NICEY, PINEY, UNKEY, UNMEW, UNPEG, VENEY, VINEW, WINEY, ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

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

  3. Test WINEY against the 12 candidates consistent with the earlier rows.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

    Expected remaining candidates: 1.259. Information: 3.071 bits. These measures describe the decision before its realised feedback.

  4. Submit the only remaining candidate.

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

    All 1 surviving candidates

    ZINEB

    Decision measures before feedback

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

Solved in 4 guesses. Uniquely identified on turn 3.

Continue this board in the Solver

How the fixed opener panel performs on this answer

OpenerFirst feedbackSurvivorsNormalHard Mode
TARSE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75944
CRANE00011 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)40344
SLATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)94255
ADIEU00120 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)26866
STARE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)75944
AUDIO00010 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)138755
RAISE00101 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)25655
ROATE00001 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)116755
SALET00020 (0 grey, 1 yellow, 2 green)60855
Normal mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 5 · 6 guesses: 1 · Failed in six: 0
Hard Mode
1 guess: 0 · 2 guesses: 0 · 3 guesses: 0 · 4 guesses: 3 · 5 guesses: 5 · 6 guesses: 1 · 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.

107 openers set up a two-turn opportunity; examples include BEING, BEGIN, BANKS, BIBLE, BANDS, DOZEN, SIZED, SIZES, ZONES, BINGO. 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 12 different answers at one later decision: CUNEI, ENMEW, NEBEK, NICEY, PINEY, UNKEY, UNMEW, UNPEG, VENEY, VINEW, WINEY, ZINEB. 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: CUNEI, ENMEW, NEBEK, NICEY, PINEY, UNKEY, UNMEW, UNPEG, VENEY, VINEW, WINEY, ZINEB.

A lesson from this route

Before WINEY, 12 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

ZINEB can come back 65 different ways. These are the most likely, and how many of the possible answers give each one:

564 answers
412 answers
177 answers
175 answers
140 answers
91 answers
85 answers
80 answers
78 answers
70 answers
60 answers
49 answers
44 answers
29 answers
26 answers
24 answers
23 answers
22 answers
21 answers
20 answers
20 answers
16 answers
10 answers
10 answers
10 answers
9 answers
9 answers
9 answers
8 answers
7 answers

Letter-value totals

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

Scrabble

Z10I1N1E1B3
Total: 16 points

Words With Friends

Total: 18 points

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

Try next

SORAL SLART SOLAR ROAST SALTY SLANT

Strategy after playing ZINEB

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

Quick reference

Largest feedback groups after playing ZINEB:

24% chance
Suggested:
SORAL
17% chance
Suggested:
SLART
7% chance
Suggested:
SLART

Follow-ups for common patterns

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

23.6% →
SORAL 5.94 bits
17.2% →
SLART 5.88 bits
7.4% →
SLART 5.38 bits
7.3% →
SOLAR 4.62 bits
5.9% →
ROAST 5.25 bits
3.8% →
SALTY 4.42 bits
3.6% →
SLART 4.43 bits
3.3% →
SLANT 4.61 bits
3.3% →
BLOAT 4.95 bits
2.9% →
SEARE 4.62 bits

Research on ZINEB

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

Optimal play

Opening with ZINEB, a proven-optimal strategy averages 3.80 guesses and ranks #10,811 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 ZINEB can guarantee a solve within six guesses.

Our six-turn simulation says 3.79, at or below the proven-optimal 3.80, 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
ZINEB 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).