Unused Wordle Words: Full List & How to Find Them

This article answers the question “Unused wordle words?” directly: there is no single official list of unused Wordle words, because the game’s answer list is fixed but not publicly revealed in full. You can, however, find or reconstruct the list of all 2,309 possible Wordle answers (as of the game’s launch) and then compare it against past answers to see which words have not yet been used.

Formula

The calculation is simple subtraction: Remaining unused words = Total possible answers − Past answers already used. The total possible answers is the size of the official Wordle answer list (2,309 for the standard game). The “past answers” is the count of daily solutions that have already appeared. The percent unused is that difference divided by the total, multiplied by 100.

Variables:

• Total possible answers – the number of words in Wordle’s answer list (unit: count).
• Past answers so far – how many daily solutions have already been used (unit: count).
• Unused words remaining – the difference, i.e., how many words are still available (unit: count).
• Percent unused – the proportion of the answer list that has not yet appeared (unit: %).

Worked Example

Using the default values: total possible answers = 2,309 and past answers = 500.

1. Subtract past answers from total: 2,309 − 500 = 1,809.
2. So the unused words remaining = 1,809.
3. Percent unused = (1,809 / 2,309) × 100 = 78.3% (rounded to one decimal).

The calculator shows the same result: 1,809 unused words, or 78.3% of the list.

Background: How Wordle’s Word Lists Work

Wordle (the web game created by Josh Wardle) uses two distinct lists: a list of allowed guesses (about 12,972 five-letter words) and a shorter list of possible answers (2,309 words). The answer list is the only one that matters for “unused” words. Every day, the game picks the next word from that answer list in a fixed order. Because the list is not officially published, players have reconstructed it by observing patterns and data-mining the game’s JavaScript code. The answer list has remained the same since the game’s launch, and the order is predetermined.

How to Find the Actual Unused Words

To get the exact unused words, you need the full answer list and a record of past answers. Here’s how to do it:

• Get the answer list: Search for “Wordle answer list” – many websites and GitHub repositories host the full 2,309-word list. It is generally considered accurate, though not officially confirmed.
• Get the past answers: You can find a complete list of past Wordle answers (with dates) on fan sites and news articles. The list is updated daily.
• Compare the two: Use a spreadsheet or a simple script to remove any past answer from the full answer list. The remaining words are the unused ones.
• Check the order: If you know the current day’s answer and the date, you can estimate the position in the list, but the exact order is not officially public.

This method works because the answer list is finite and non-repeating. Once a word is used, it never appears again.

Common Misconceptions

One common myth is that Wordle has a “random” word each day. In fact, the answer list is fixed in order, so the sequence is predetermined. Another misconception is that the allowed guesses list is the same as the answer list – it is not. The allowed guesses list includes many obscure five-letter words that will never be answers. Also, some players think that once a word appears as an answer, it is removed from the allowed guesses – that is false. Used answers can still be used as guesses in later games.

How to Use the Unused List

Knowing the unused words can help you narrow down possibilities if you are trying to solve the daily puzzle with a strategy. For example, if you know the answer is not in the used list, you can eliminate those words from your mental dictionary. However, because the answer list is not officially confirmed, you cannot be 100% certain. Some players use the unused list to create practice games or to challenge themselves with words that have never appeared. It is also a fun way to see which common words are still “in the pool.”

Limitations and Accuracy

The main limitation is that the answer list is not officially published, so any list you find is a reconstruction. The list of 2,309 words is widely accepted, but there is a small chance of errors. Also, the game may change its word list in the future, though it has not done so since launch. The past answers list is accurate as long as you update it daily. The calculator above gives a count, not the actual words – for the exact words, you need to do the comparison yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Wordle words are there in total?

There are 2,309 possible answer words in the original Wordle. The allowed guesses list is much larger, around 12,972 words, but only the 2,309 can be daily answers.

Are all Wordle answers unique?

Yes, the answer list is designed so that no word repeats. Once a word is used, it will not appear again as an answer. This is why the unused count decreases over time.

Can I see the full list of unused words?

You can, but you need to compile it yourself. Many websites offer the full answer list and the past answers list. By subtracting the past answers from the full list, you get the unused words. Some sites even provide a “remaining words” list, but it may not be up to date.

Does the New York Times version use the same word list?

Yes, when The New York Times acquired Wordle, they kept the same answer list and order. There have been no changes to the list as of now, though that could change in the future.

What happens when all 2,309 words are used?

That will take about 6.3 years (2,309 days). The game’s creator has not said what will happen after that. It is possible the list will be updated or the game will end, but no official plan has been announced.

Is there an official list of unused words?

No, the makers of Wordle do not publish the answer list or the unused words. All available lists are fan-made reconstructions from the game’s code, which are generally accurate but not official.

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in total | Total possible answers | - | 2309 | 1 | 100000
in used | Past answers so far | - | 500 | 0 | 100000
out remaining | Unused words remaining | - | total - used | 0
out percent | Percent unused | % | (total - used) / total * 100 | 1