Behind Wordle Words: 10 Tracy Bennett Picks That Shook the Game

Wordle’s journey began on June 19, 2021, with its first answer: CIGAR. Created by software engineer Josh Wardle, the game remained a small, personal project until it exploded in popularity around Christmas 2021. By the end of January 2022, The New York Times acquired Wordle, ensuring its place in the Puzzle Hall of Fame.

The Making of the Iconic Wordle Word List

The heart of the game—the word list—was thoughtfully crafted by Wardle and his partner. Initially, it included all 13,000 five-letter words in the English language, but this proved cumbersome. As Wardle explained in a Slate interview, they refined the list to approximately 2,500 solution words (though some sources suggest it was closer to 2,300). Using a simple game, his partner categorized words into ones she knew, didn’t know, or maybe knew, creating a set focused on familiarity and fun.

This love-fueled curation ensured Wordle answers felt accessible yet challenging, avoiding overly obscure or controversial words—a standard later carried forward by The New York Times.

Early Tweaks to Preserve Wordle’s Spirit

After acquiring Wordle in early 2022, The New York Times began moderating its word list to align with its editorial standards. Offensive terms like “bitch” and “sluts” were removed, though some NSFW words remain playable as guesses. The Times reassured players that while the dictionary was being refined, Wordle’s gameplay and its free access would stay intact.

One notable change came in May 2022 when the pre-programmed answer FETUS coincided with a heated political moment involving a leaked Supreme Court draft on abortion rights. The Times quickly replaced it with another word to avoid unintended controversy, though some players who hadn’t refreshed their browsers still saw the original answer.

These adjustments reflected the Times’ commitment to maintaining Wordle’s charm while respecting its evolving global audience. Despite minor technical hiccups, like disrupted streaks, the essence of Wordle remained unchanged as the game adapted to its new home.

A New Chapter: Tracy Bennett Takes the Helm

In November 2022, The New York Times appointed Tracy Bennett as Wordle’s first dedicated editor, marking a new era for the beloved game. Bennett, an experienced puzzle editor and constructor, brought her expertise to keep Wordle engaging, accessible, and fair. Her thoughtful curation introduced changes designed to balance difficulty throughout the week.

Bennett also refined the word list by adding fresh terms and removing outdated or potentially offensive ones, ensuring Wordle stayed relevant for its global audience. Her updates brought subtle surprises, like themed puzzles for Thanksgiving, and made Wordle feel as unpredictable as ever. Under her guidance, the game stayed true to its roots while captivating players worldwide.

From Chaos to Charm: 10 Words Tracy Bennett Added to Wordle

Here’s a chronological list of words introduced to Wordle by Tracy Bennett:

#1 GUANO ( 2023-03-27)

A rare word for bird droppings, adding a unique challenge to the puzzle.

#2 SNAFU ( 2023-04-09)

A term for a chaotic or confused situation, reflecting military slang with a playful tone.

#3 BALSA ( 2023-06-09)

A light wood often used for models or crafts, introducing a more niche word.

#4 KAZOO ( 2023-06-19)

A fun, quirky musical instrument that injected some humor into the game.

#5 LASER ( 2024-04-22)

A modern, technology-related word, making it more relatable to today's world.

#6 PIOUS ( 2024-05-08)

A word meaning devoutly religious, adding a touch of seriousness to the mix.

#7 BEAUT ( 2024-09-17)

A slang term for "beautiful," showcasing casual, everyday language.

#8 MOMMY ( 2024-10-09)

A tender term for mother, with universal warmth.

#9 PRIMP ( 2024-11-13)

To groom or dress carefully, a lighter, less common word with a playful twist.

#10 UVULA ( 2024-11-14)

A medical term for the dangling part at the back of the throat, adding variety and complexity.

Did any of these words break your streak? UVULA nearly took the crown as the ultimate streak-buster—but KAZOO put up a good fight. With its quirky double-O charm and playful vibe, KAZOO tripped up plenty of solvers. Then came UVULA, with its anatomical precision and sneaky difficulty, pushing even seasoned players to tap for hints. Both words had Wordlers sweating, but UVULA ultimately edged ahead, proving just how Wordle can swing between fun and frustration, keeping us all guessing—and maybe grumbling a little—along the way!

Analyzing the New Additions

In August, we published The Science of Wordle Panic, a study exploring what makes Wordle words so tricky that players turn to Google for help. As part of that research, we introduced the Hint Heat Index (HHI), a metric that measures the intensity of Google searches for " Wordle hint" on a given day. We examined correlations between HHI and features like word difficulty, letter repeats, and Scrabble scoring.

To understand what makes certain words special enough to join Wordle’s otherwise stable word list, we analyzed these new additions using the same criteria and the lens of HHI intensity.

Here’s what we found:

• KAZOO (2023-06-19) – Among the most challenging Wordles, with an HHI (Hint Heat Index) of 100. Its unique double-O, rare Z, and overall advanced difficulty—stemming from its uncommon usage—likely puzzled solvers.
• PIOUS (2024-05-08) – Scored an HHI of 90. Its unusual vowel-to-consonant ratio and less frequent usage contributed to its challenge.
• Other words like GUANO, SNAFU, BALSA, and LASER fell into less difficult categories. They sparked less solver panic, leaving us curious about why Tracy selected them for the Wordle list.
• UVULA (2024-11-14) – Matched KAZOO with an HHI of 100, cementing its status as a top-tier challenge. Its anatomical specificity and uncommon letter combination likely stumped many.
• MOMMY (2024-10-09) – With three Ms, its HHI was close to DADDY (2023-09-30) but lower than MUMMY (2022-12-23). Solver familiarity with family terms may have made it slightly easier.
• PRIMP (2024-11-13) – Generated less heat, aligning with easier puzzles. Its single repeated P and straightforward pattern made it more approachable, though many solvers admitted on TikTok they weren’t familiar with this word.

Explore our interactive treemap featuring these 10 standout Wordle additions! Each word's size reflects its Hint Heat Index (HHI) value, with interactive elements allowing you to tap for details like the word's date, HHI score, and definition. Use the dropdown to focus on a specific word and dive deeper into its story.

Understanding Wordle's Word Lists

For those not familiar with the intricacies of Wordle's word management, the game operates with three distinct word lists. Here's a quick breakdown:

The List of All Accepted Guesses

This expansive list contains 13,000+ five-letter words from the English dictionary, including regular plurals (e.g., "BOATS") and past tense verbs (e.g., "SAVED"). These words can be used as guesses but are not valid solutions.

The WordleBot List

Managed by The Upshot (a division of NYT distinct from NYT Games), this list of 3,000+ words is curated specifically for WordleBot recommendations. It evolves over time and reflects its unique approach to the game.

The List of Valid Solutions

This is the focus of our analysis and where the ten new words were added. It’s a relatively stable list, originally containing around 2,300+ words, with only a handful of removals and additions. You can explore a version of it here.

Rules for the Valid Solutions List

Wordle’s valid solutions follow specific guidelines:

Plurals:

• Regular plurals ending in "S" or "ES" (e.g., "WORDS," "NODES") are excluded.
• Irregular plurals (e.g., "CACTI," "TEETH") are allowed.

Verb Forms:

• Past tense verbs ending in "ED" (e.g., "SAVED") are excluded.
• Some irregular past tense verbs are accepted (e.g. "FLOWN").

Other Restrictions:

• No proper nouns or place names (with a few exceptions).
• Offensive words are excluded.

These rules ensure consistency and fairness, making Wordle's valid solutions list a carefully curated fixture of the game.

What Makes a Word Worth Adding to the Wordle List?

With Wordle now past the halfway mark—over 1,265 words used from the original 2,315—we can’t help but ask: What makes a good Wordle word? (To quote Tracy Bennett herself!)

The game isn’t running out of words anytime soon. There are still more than 1,000 untouched possibilities, so each new addition feels like a deliberate choice. But what exactly guides those choices?

Are they looking for words that challenge us, like KAZOO and UVULA, which threw players off with their quirky letters and uncommon usage? Or is it about striking a balance, offering up approachable but interesting words like MOMMY and PRIMP?

Maybe the goal is variety—mixing the tough, the fun, and the familiar to keep things fresh without overwhelming players. Whatever the case, these additions remind us that Wordle’s word list isn’t just a random grab bag; it’s carefully curated to keep us guessing and engaged.

As we solve each day’s puzzle, we’re not just figuring out a word—we’re getting a peek at how the game evolves. And with so many words left, it’s exciting to think about what surprises are still in store.