CLUE WORD STUDY
SAPPY: one clue, many possibilities.
The clue SAPPY produces 22 different unique-solution patterns in our 2315-word historical answer dictionary. Match all five colors before selecting a row: the clue word alone does not identify an answer.
Try a puzzle with SAPPY
This playable example is from our curated vault. The reference table below includes every unique pattern for the clue, including patterns outside the five-tier selection.
How to read this SAPPY clue
Start with the playable row above. This nudge uses its visible colors without revealing the answer.
Yellow S has only one open position: 3.
The clue repeats P × 2. Each green or yellow copy needs a separate occurrence; gray copies limit how many can remain.
For this row, colored and gray copies set exact counts: P × 1. A gray tile also forbids that letter at its own position.
Work through this SAPPY example and reveal its answer
This proof checks all 2315 words in our historical answer dictionary.
Only RASPY matches all five colors in this dictionary.
See the deduction steps
- Green positions · 4 left
- Keep A in position 2.
- Keep P in position 4.
- Keep Y in position 5.
- Yellow constraints · 1 left
- Use S away from position 1.
- Use at least 1 × S.
- Use at least 1 × A.
- Use at least 1 × P.
- Use at least 1 × Y.
- Exact feedback · 1 left
- Do not place P in position 3.
- Use exactly 1 × P.
- SAPPY — Use S away from position 1.
- PALSY — Keep P in position 4.
Why SAPPY alone does not identify the answer
These two real rows use the same clue word and each has one match in our dictionary. Their different colors lead to different answers. Copy the entire row into Solver or Hints, not just the letters.
Pattern 1
Starting from 2315 words, green positions leave 4, yellow constraints leave 1, and exact feedback leaves 1.
Inspect this example →Pattern 2
Starting from 2315 words, green positions leave 16, yellow constraints leave 1, and exact feedback leaves 1.
Inspect this example →Every unique pattern for SAPPY
Answers start collapsed. Open only the one you want to see, or choose Hints for a gradual reveal. Counts can stay unchanged between steps when a later constraint adds no further elimination.
| Scored clue | Level | After green | After yellow | Exact matches | Answer | Help |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAPPY GYBGG | Level 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | RevealSOAPY | Hints → |
SAPPY YGBGG | Level 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | RevealRASPY | Hints → |
SAPPY BYGYG | Level 2 | 16 | 1 | 1 | RevealAPPLY | Hints → |
SAPPY GYYBG | Level 2 | 42 | 2 | 1 | RevealSPRAY | Hints → |
SAPPY BBGGB | Level 3 | 8 | 8 | 1 | RevealHIPPO | Hints → |
SAPPY BBYGG | Level 3 | 16 | 1 | 1 | RevealPULPY | Hints → |
SAPPY BGGGB | Level 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | RevealKAPPA | Hints → |
SAPPY BGGGG | Level 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | RevealHAPPY | Hints → |
SAPPY GGBBY | Level 3 | 23 | 1 | 1 | RevealSATYR | Hints → |
SAPPY GYBGB | Level 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | RevealSHAPE | Hints → |
SAPPY GYGBB | Level 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | RevealSEPIA | Hints → |
SAPPY YBBGG | Level 3 | 16 | 2 | 1 | RevealWISPY | Hints → |
SAPPY YGGBB | Level 3 | 15 | 1 | 1 | RevealLAPSE | Hints → |
SAPPY BYYBG | Level 4 | 364 | 3 | 1 | RevealAPTLY | Hints → |
SAPPY GBYBY | Level 4 | 366 | 1 | 1 | RevealSYRUP | Hints → |
SAPPY BBYYY | Level 5 | 2315 | 1 | 1 | RevealPOLYP | Hints → |
SAPPY BBGBY | Reference | 58 | 1 | 1 | RevealHYPER | Hints → |
SAPPY BBYYB | Reference | 2315 | 2 | 1 | RevealPLUMP | Hints → |
SAPPY BGBGB | Reference | 6 | 6 | 1 | RevealRALPH | Hints → |
SAPPY BGBGG | Reference | 4 | 4 | 1 | RevealHARPY | Hints → |
SAPPY GBGBB | Reference | 3 | 3 | 1 | RevealSUPER | Hints → |
SAPPY YBBBY | Reference | 2315 | 3 | 1 | RevealTRYST | Hints → |
How this table was calculated
We scored this clue against every answer, grouped words by their exact five-tile feedback, and kept patterns with exactly one word. The all-green clue-equals-answer row is excluded. Green and yellow counts are nested filtering steps; the final step checks the entire feedback including gray multiplicity caps.
Data version: wordlein1-2026-11-03-v1. This is a complete reference for this pinned list, not every English dictionary or the current official puzzle. Sources and method