Our word list
How we choose words
Every word game has to decide what counts as a word. Here is exactly how Nectary decides, so a missing or surprising word never feels like a mystery.
- Accepted words
- 188,175
- Possible daily answers
- 51,035
- British spellings
- 4,615
- Awaiting review
- 19,247
Where the words come from
We build our list from open, documented sources, pinned to exact versions so the list only changes when we choose to change it:
- The English Speller Database (formerly SCOWL), the word lists behind many spell checkers. It sorts words into sizes, from a core list of everyday words to large lists of rare ones. We accept American spellings up to size 70 (125,806 words) and its British spellings (4,615 words).
- The ENABLE list, a public domain list made for word games, which adds 57,754 more.
- Open English WordNet (2025 edition) for definitions, and wordfreq to measure how often each word turns up in everyday writing.
Slurs and hateful words are removed entirely, using the English Speller Database’s own offensive markings, a public list of bad words, and our own additions. You can’t play them anywhere on Nectary.
Daily answers and bonus words
Every accepted word scores points. Only some can be a daily answer, the words you need to finish. An answer:
- has four letters or more, and uses the center letter, like every word in the game;
- is an American spelling from the everyday or standard lists, not only the largest ones;
- is in common use, and comes with a definition we can show you;
- isn’t a name, an abbreviation, an archaic form, or too crude for a calm morning puzzle.
Any other real word that fits is a bonus word. It scores points and counts toward your rank, but you never need it to finish, and finding one is a nice surprise. British spellings like colour and rare words like aalii live here.
Every word page has a Why this word counts box that says where the word comes from, how common it is, and whether it can be a daily answer, with the reason. Try honey, colour, aalii or abides.
A person checks the borderline words
Most words sort themselves. Some don’t: a word that is rare in everyday writing, only in the less common lists, slang, or has one unkind meaning among many. Those wait for a person to read their definitions and decide. Until then they score as bonus words. Right now 19,247 words are waiting; we review them in batches, starting with the ones most likely to come up in a puzzle.
When a word list change would take away a puzzle’s only pangram, we fix that puzzle by hand rather than leave it broken.
Suggest a word
Word suggestions are opening soon. In the meantime, the solver shows every word we accept for any seven letters, and each word’s page explains its place in the list.
Full credits and licenses are on the About page.