Wordle’s pool of valid five-letter words has always intrigued players, sparking debates about what counts and what doesn’t. While the game accepts a wide variety of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, certain types of words—like proper nouns or overly obscure terms—are generally excluded. Over time, the Wordle word list has evolved, leaving players unsure about what might be accepted as a guess or a solution.
To make things easier, we’ve compiled a checklist of words that Wordle enthusiasts often wonder about. This list is alphabetically arranged and designed to help you quickly verify if a word you’re considering is valid in the game. No more second-guessing—scroll through and see if your word makes the cut!
| Word | Valid Wordle Word or Not? | Past Wordle Answer | Meaning |
| CREDO | Valid | Yes (March 19, 2023) | A statement of beliefs or guiding principles |
| ENNUI | Valid | Yes (June 5, 2023) | A feeling of boredom or dissatisfaction, often stemming from a lack of excitement or purpose |
| GREEN | Valid | Yes (November 13, 2023) | The color of grass, leaves, and many plants; often associated with nature and growth |
| HATER | Valid | Yes (June 7, 2023) | Someone who expresses strong dislike or criticism, often unfairly |
| INTER | Valid | Yes (September 4, 2022) | To bury or place in a grave or tomb |
| LIVEN | Valid | No | To make something more lively or energetic; to enliven |
| KAPOW | Valid | No | An onomatopoeic word representing a loud, explosive sound, often used in comic books or to describe something dramatic or impactful |
| MACHE | Valid | No | A type of leafy green also known as lamb’s lettuce, often used in salads |
| MAINE | Invalid | N/A | A U.S. state in New England, known for its rocky coastline, lighthouses, and seafood, especially lobster |
| MANNY | Valid | No | A male nanny or caregiver, often for children |
| PETER | Valid | No | Typically a male given name, derived from the Greek word ‘petros,’ meaning rock or stone |
| PIPER | Valid | Yes (February 24, 2024) | A person who plays a pipe or bagpipes |
| QUEUE | Valid | Yes (November 19, 2023) | A line of people or things waiting their turn |
| VROOM | Valid | No | The sound of a revving engine, often associated with speed and excitement. |
| WAITE | Valid | No | An old spelling of ‘wait,’ often referring to a watchman or town musician in historical contexts |
| WAZOO | Valid | No | Slang for an unspecified, often exaggerated, large amount or extreme extent. |
| XEROX | Valid | No | A brand name often used generically to refer to photocopying documents |
| XYLYL | Valid | No | An organic chemical radical derived from xylene, used in chemistry |
NOTE: The words we have marked as valid are those accepted by the Wordle algorithm when entered in the game. This confirms that they are part of The New York Times’ official list of valid Wordle words. Furthermore, if you refer to the GitHub repository of valid Wordle words, you’ll find these words included as well. This repository contains both the official solutions and the allowed guesses.
Invalid Words in Wordle
In Wordle, certain words are deemed invalid for gameplay. These typically include:
I. Words Not Included in the Official Word List
The current version of Wordle, especially after its acquisition by the New York Times, uses a specific list of acceptable words. This list may exclude some common words that players might expect to use. For instance, words like “Asian” are not valid guesses in the game, which has sparked discussions about the criteria for word selection.
II. Obscure or Uncommon Words
Wordle aims to provide an enjoyable experience by avoiding overly obscure or slang words as solutions. This design choice helps ensure that players are familiar with the words used in the game, making it more accessible and enjoyable.
III. Expanded or Altered Word Lists
Over time, the word list used in Wordle has been modified. While the original list was publicly available, the updated list is not fully disclosed, leading to speculation that it may include fewer or different words than before. Some players have noted that the list of guessable words is broader than the list of words that can be chosen as solutions.
How Often Does Wordle Update Its List of Valid Words?
Wordle does not have a fixed schedule for updating its list of valid words. However, significant changes have occurred since the game was acquired by The New York Times, which has led to the removal of certain words considered offensive or outdated.
For example, six words were removed from the original list of 2,315 after the acquisition, leaving 2,309 potential solutions. The game features a dictionary of approximately 12,966 words, which includes both the solution words and additional guesses. Players can use a broader set of words to guess, but only a specific subset is used for daily solutions.
While the core list of daily solutions is relatively stable, the game may evolve over time, potentially leading to further updates or adjustments to the word lists based on player feedback and changing language trends. The New York Times continues to refine the game, which may include updates to the word list as needed.