5 Letter Words With E in the Middle

Start with STEAL. It splits the 1,345 5 letter words with e in the middle more evenly than any other first guess, and the full list sits below it.

One square with E in the middle still leaves 1,345 words. ADEPT, AGENT, AHEAD are the strongest openings among them.

About 13% of these sit on the Wordle answer list, 177 words in all.

Best First Guesses

With 1,345 words to get through, the first guess decides most of the round. Each one below is on this list, so it could be the answer outright, and the number beside it is how many words would still be left in the worst case.

STEAL: takes 1,345 down to 258 at worst. It is on the answer list.
CREST: down to 280. It is on the answer list.
TREES: down to 298.

What These Words Have in Common

The last square lands on S more than any other letter: 351 words, about a quarter of the set. The letters that turn up alongside most often are S (617), R (438) and T (352). Everyday English covers 99 of these 1,345 words. Past that point you are reading a dictionary, not a word list, so guess from the letters above.

Best 5 Letter Words With E in the Middle

The strongest picks, with answer-list words first.

ADEPT
AGENT
AHEAD
ALERT
AMEND
ARENA
AVERT
BEECH
BEEFY
BLEAK
BLEAT
BLEED
BLEEP
BLEND
BLESS
BREAD
BREAK
BREED
CHEAP
CHEAT
CHECK
CHEEK
CHEER
CHESS
CHEST
CLEAN
CLEAR
CLEAT
CLEFT
CLERK
CREAK
CREAM
CREDO
CREED
CREEK
CREEP
CREME
CREPE
CREPT
CRESS
CREST
DREAD
DREAM
DRESS
DWELL
DWELT
EJECT
ELECT
ELEGY
ENEMA
ENEMY
ERECT
EVENT
EVERY
EXERT
FIELD
FIEND
FIERY
FLECK
FLEET
FLESH
FREAK
FREED
FREER
FRESH
GEEKY
GEESE
GLEAM
GLEAN
GREAT
GREED
GREEN
GREET
GUESS
GUEST
HYENA
IDEAL
INEPT
INERT
KNEAD
KNEED
KNEEL
KNELT
LEECH
LEERY
LIEGE
NEEDY
NIECE
OBESE
OCEAN
OMEGA
OPERA
OVERT
PIECE
PIETY
PLEAD
PLEAT
POESY
PREEN
PRESS
QUEEN
QUEER
QUELL
QUERY
QUEST
QUEUE
REEDY
SCENE
SCENT
SEEDY
SHEAR
SHEEN
SHEEP
SHEER
SHEET
SHEIK
SHELF
SHELL
SIEGE
SIEVE
SLEEK
SLEEP
SLEET
SLEPT
SMEAR
SMELL
SMELT
SNEAK
SNEER
SPEAK
SPEAR
SPECK
SPEED
SPELL
SPELT
SPEND
SPENT
SPERM
STEAD
STEAK
STEAL
STEAM
STEED
STEEL
STEEP
STEER
STEIN
STERN
SWEAR
SWEAT

5 Letter Words Starting With A With E as the 3rd Letter

ADEPT
AGENT
AHEAD
ALERT
AMEND
ARENA
AVERT
AREAS
ABEAM
ABEAR
ABEAT
ABEDE
ABEER
ABELE
ABEND
ABENG
ABERR
ABERS
ABETS
ABEYS
ACEDY
ACENE
ACERB
ACERS
ACETA
ADEAD
ADEEM
ADEEP
ADELA
ADEPS
AFEAR
AGENA
AGEND
AGENE
AGERS
AGETE
AHEAP
AHEMS
AHENT
AIERY
AKEBI
AKEES
AKEKI
AKELA
AKENE
ALEAK
ALECK
ALECS
ALEEM
ALEFS
ALEFT
ALENU
ALEPH
ALEUT
ALEWS
ALEYE
AMEBA
AMEED
AMEEN
AMEER
AMELU
AMENE
AMENS
AMENT
AMESS
ANEAR
ANELE
ANEND
ANENT
APEAK
APEEK
APERS
APERT
APERU
APERY
AREAD
AREAE
AREAL
AREAN
AREAR
ARECA
AREDD
AREDE
AREEK
AREEL
AREFY
AREIC
AREND
ARENE
ARENG
ARENT
AREPA
ARERE
AREST
ARETE
ARETS
ARETT
ATEBA
ATEES
ATELO
ATELY
AUETO
AVELL
AVELS
AVENA
AVENS
AVENY
AVERA
AVERN
AVERS
AVERY
AWEEK
AWEEL
AWEST
AWETO
AXELS
AXERS
AYELP
AYENS

5 Letter Words Starting With B With E as the 3rd Letter

BEECH
BEEFY
BLEAK
BLEAT
BLEED
BLEEP
BLEND
BLESS
BREAD
BREAK
BREED
BAELS
BEEDI
BEEFS
BEELE
BEENT
BEEPS
BEERS
BEERY
BEEST
BEETH
BEETS
BEETY
BEEVE
BHELS
BIELD
BIENS
BIERS
BLEAH
BLEAR
BLEBS
BLECH
BLECK
BLEES
BLENK
BLENS
BLENT
BLERE
BLERT
BLEST
BLETS
BLEYS
BOEPS
BOERS
BOETI
BOETS
BOEUF
BREAM
BREBA
BRECK
BREDE
BREDI
BREDS
BREEK
BREEM
BREER
BREES
BREID
BREIS
BREME
BRENS
BRENT
BRERD
BRERE
BRERS
BREST
BRETH
BRETT
BREVA
BREVE
BREVI
BREWS
BREYS
BUENA
BUENO

5 Letter Words Starting With C With E as the 3rd Letter

CHEAP
CHEAT
CHECK
CHEEK
CHEER
CHESS
CHEST
CLEAN
CLEAR
CLEAT
CLEFT
CLERK
CREAK
CREAM
CREDO
CREED
CREEK
CREEP
CREME
CREPE
CREPT
CRESS
CREST
CHEVY
CAECA
CAESE
CHEBA
CHEDI
CHEEB
CHEEP
CHEET
CHEFS
CHEGO
CHEIR
CHEKA
CHEKE
CHEKI
CHELA
CHELP
CHEMO
CHEMS
CHENA
CHENG
CHERA
CHERE
CHERT
CHESE
CHETH
CHEVE
CHEWS
CHEWY
CIELS
CLEAD
CLEAM
CLECK
CLEEK
CLEEP
CLEFS
CLEGS
CLEIK
CLEMS
CLEPE
CLEPT
CLEUK
CLEVE
CLEWS
COEDS
COEFF
COENO
CREAD
CREAT
CREDA
CREDS
CREEL
CREEM
CREEN
CREES
CREIN
CREMA
CREMS
CRENA
CREPS
CREPY
CRESC
CRETA
CRETE
CREWE
CREWS
CSECT
CTENE
CUECA
CUEVA
CZECH

5 Letter Words Starting With D With E as the 3rd Letter

DREAD
DREAM
DRESS
DWELL
DWELT
DAEVA
DEEDS
DEEDY
DEELY
DEEMS
DEENS
DEENY
DEEPS
DEERE
DEERS
DEESS
DEETS
DEEVE
DEEVS
DHERI
DIEBS
DIEGO
DIELS
DIENE
DIERI
DIETS
DIETY
DOEKS
DOERS
DOESN
DOEST
DOETH
DREAR
DRECK
DREED
DREEP
DREER
DREES
DREGS
DREKS
DRENG
DRENT
DRERE
DREST
DREYS
DSECT
DUELS
DUETS
DUETT
DWEEB
DYERS

5 Letter Words Starting With E With E as the 3rd Letter

EJECT
ELECT
ELEGY
ENEMA
ENEMY
ERECT
EVENT
EVERY
EXERT
EBENA
EBENE
EDEMA
EGERS
EGEST
ELEAN
ELEET
ELEME
ELEMI
ELEUT
ELEVE
EMEER
EMEND
EMERG
EMERY
EMESA
EMEUS
ENEAS
ENEID
ENENT
ENEWS
EPEES
EPENA
EPENE
EPEUS
EREPT
EREVS
ESERE
ETENS
EVECK
EVEGS
EVENE
EVENS
EVERT
EVESE
EVETS
EWERS
EWERY
EWEST
EXEAT
EXECS
EXECT
EXEDE
EXEEM
EXEME
EYERS
EYESS

5 Letter Words Starting With F With E as the 3rd Letter

FIELD
FIEND
FIERY
FLECK
FLEET
FLESH
FREAK
FREED
FREER
FRESH
FEEDS
FEELS
FAENA
FAERY
FEEBS
FEEDY
FEELY
FEENS
FEERE
FEERS
FEESE
FEEST
FEEZE
FIEFS
FIENT
FIERE
FIERI
FIERS
FIEST
FJELD
FLEAK
FLEAM
FLEAR
FLEAS
FLEAY
FLECT
FLEEK
FLEER
FLEES
FLEGM
FLEGS
FLEME
FLETA
FLEUR
FLEWS
FLEXI
FLEXO
FLEYS
FNESE
FOEHN
FOETI
FREAM
FRECK
FREEN
FREES
FREET
FREIR
FREIT
FREMD
FREMT
FRENA
FREON
FRERE
FRESS
FRETS
FRETT
FREUD
FREYA
FREYR
FUELS
FUERO

5 Letter Words Starting With G With E as the 3rd Letter

GEEKY
GEESE
GLEAM
GLEAN
GREAT
GREED
GREEN
GREET
GUESS
GUEST
GREEK
GAELS
GEEKS
GEEPS
GEEST
GHEES
GHENT
GHESS
GHEST
GLEAD
GLEBA
GLEBE
GLEBY
GLEDE
GLEDS
GLEDY
GLEED
GLEEK
GLEEN
GLEES
GLEET
GLEIR
GLEIS
GLEIT
GLENE
GLENN
GLENS
GLENT
GLEYS
GOELS
GOERS
GOEST
GOETH
GOETY
GREBE
GREBO
GRECE
GRECO
GREES
GREGE
GREGG
GREGO
GREIN
GREIT
GRENE
GRENS
GRENZ
GREPS
GRESE
GRETA
GRETE
GREVE
GREWS
GREWT
GREYS
GTEAU
GUELF
GWEED
GWELY
GYELD

5 Letter Words Starting With H With E as the 3rd Letter

HYENA
HAEMS
HAERE
HAETS
HEEDS
HEEDY
HEELS
HEEZE
HEEZY
HIELD
HIEMS
HIENZ
HIERA
HOERS
HUERS
HYENS

5 Letter Words Starting With I With E as the 3rd Letter

IDEAL
INEPT
INERT
IDEAS
ITEMS
IBERI
ICENI
ICERS
IDEAN
IDEES
IDENT
IDEST
IDETA
ILEAC
ILEAL
ILEON
ILEUM
ILEUS
INERI
INERM
INEYE
IRENA
IRENE
IREOS
ISEUM
ITEMY
ITERS

5 Letter Words Starting With J With E as the 3rd Letter

JEELS
JEELY
JEEPS
JEERA
JEERS
JEERY
JEEZE
JHEEL
JOEYS

5 Letter Words Starting With K With E as the 3rd Letter

KNEAD
KNEED
KNEEL
KNELT
KEEPS
KEECH
KEEFS
KEEKS
KEELS
KEEMA
KEENA
KEENO
KEENS
KEEST
KEETS
KEEVE
KHEDA
KHEER
KHETH
KHETS
KIEFS
KIERS
KIEVE
KIEVS
KIEYE
KLEIG
KLETT
KNEES
KNELL
KNEZI
KOELS
KOERI
KREBS
KREEF
KREEN
KREEP
KREIL
KREIS
KREMS
KRENG
KREPI
KREWE
KVELL
KWELA

5 Letter Words Starting With L With E as the 3rd Letter

LEECH
LEERY
LIEGE
LAERS
LAETI
LAEVO
LEEAR
LEEDS
LEEKS
LEEKY
LEEPS
LEERS
LEESE
LEETS
LEEZE
LIEFS
LIENS
LIERS
LIESH
LIEST
LIEUE
LIEUS
LIEUT
LIEVE
LOEIL
LOESS
LRECL
LWEIS
LYERY

5 Letter Words Starting With M With E as the 3rd Letter

MEETS
MAEDI
MAERL
MEECE
MEECH
MEEDS
MEEJA
MEEKS
MEEPS
MEERS
MEESE
MEETH
MIENS
MIEUX
MIEVE
MNEME
MOECK
MOENI
MOERS
MTEPE
MZEES

5 Letter Words Starting With N With E as the 3rd Letter

NEEDY
NIECE
NEEDS
NAEVE
NAEVI
NEEBS
NEEDN
NEEFS
NEELA
NEELD
NEELE
NEEMB
NEEMS
NEEPS
NEESE
NEEZE
NGEGE
NIEFS
NIELS
NIEPA
NIESS
NIEVE
NOELS
NOEMA
NOEME
NOEMI
NPEEL
NUEVO

5 Letter Words Starting With O With E as the 3rd Letter

OBESE
OCEAN
OMEGA
OPERA
OVERT
OPENS
OBEAH
OBELI
OBEYS
ODELL
ODEON
ODEUM
OGEED
OGEES
OHELO
OKEHS
OLEHS
OLEIC
OLEIN
OLENA
OLENT
OLEOS
OLEPY
OLEUM
OLEYL
OMEES
OMENS
OMERS
ONELY
ONERS
ONERY
OPELU
OPEPE
OPERY
OREAD
OREAS
OSELA
OSETR
OSEYS
OUEDS
OUENS
OVELS
OVENS
OVERS
OVEST
OWERS
OXEAS
OXERS
OXEYE
OYERS
OZEKI
OZENA

5 Letter Words Starting With P With E as the 3rd Letter

PIECE
PIETY
PLEAD
PLEAT
POESY
PREEN
PRESS
PEERS
POEMS
PAEAN
PAEDO
PAEON
PEECE
PEEKE
PEEKS
PEEKY
PEELE
PEELS
PEELY
PEENS
PEENT
PEEOY
PEEPE
PEEPS
PEEPY
PEERT
PEERY
PEEVE
PEEVO
PHEAL
PHEBE
PHEER
PHEME
PHENE
PHENY
PHEON
PHESE
PIEDS
PIEND
PIERS
PIERT
PIEST
PIETA
PIETE
PIETS
PIEZO
PLEAS
PLEBE
PLEBS
PLECK
PLEEP
PLEIN
PLEIS
PLENA
PLENE
PLENO
PLENY
PLEON
PLESH
PLETS
PLEWS
PLEXI
PNEUM
PNEUS
POENA
POEPS
POETE
POETS
PREAK
PREDY
PREED
PREEM
PREES
PREIF
PREKE
PRELA
PREMS
PREMY
PRENT
PREON
PREOP
PREPD
PREPG
PREPN
PREPS
PRESA
PRESE
PREST
PRETA
PREUX
PREVE
PREXY
PREYS
PSEND
PSEUD
PUERS
PYETS

5 Letter Words Starting With Q With E as the 3rd Letter

QUEEN
QUEER
QUELL
QUERY
QUEST
QUEUE
QUEAK
QUEAL
QUEAN
QUECK
QUEEK
QUEEM
QUEET
QUEGH
QUELT
QUEME
QUENA
QUENT
QUERL
QUERN
QUESO
QUETE
QUEYN
QUEYS
QUEYU

5 Letter Words Starting With R With E as the 3rd Letter

REEDY
REEAF
REECH
REEDE
REEDS
REEFS
REEFY
REEKS
REEKY
REELS
REELY
REEMS
REENS
REERD
REESE
REESK
REEST
REEVE
REEZE
RHEAE
RHEAS
RHEDA
RHEEN
RHEIC
RHEID
RHEIN
RHEMA
RHEME
RHEUM
RIELS
RIEMS
RIEVE
ROERS
RUEDA
RUELY
RUERS

5 Letter Words Starting With S With E as the 3rd Letter

SCENE
SCENT
SEEDY
SHEAR
SHEEN
SHEEP
SHEER
SHEET
SHEIK
SHELF
SHELL
SIEGE
SIEVE
SLEEK
SLEEP
SLEET
SLEPT
SMEAR
SMELL
SMELT
SNEAK
SNEER
SPEAK
SPEAR
SPECK
SPEED
SPELL
SPELT
SPEND
SPENT
SPERM
STEAD
STEAK
STEAL
STEAM
STEED
STEEL
STEEP
STEER
STEIN
STERN
SWEAR
SWEAT
SWEEP
SWEET
SWELL
SWEPT
SEEDS
SEEKS
SEEMS
SPECS
STEPS
SAETA
SCEAT
SCELP
SCENA
SCEND
SDEIN
SEECH
SEEGE
SEELD
SEELS
SEELY
SEENU
SEEPS
SEEPY
SEERS
SHEAF
SHEAL
SHEAN
SHEAS
SHEAT
SHEDS
SHEDU
SHEEL
SHELA
SHELD
SHEMA
SHEMU
SHEND
SHENG
SHENT
SHEOL
SHERD
SHERE
SHERO
SHETH
SHETS
SHEVA
SHEWA
SHEWN
SHEWS
SIELD
SIENA
SIENS
SIENT
SIEST
SIETH
SIEUR
SIEVA
SIEVY
SKEAN
SKEAR
SKEAT
SKEDS
SKEED
SKEEF
SKEEG
SKEEL
SKEEN
SKEER
SKEES
SKEET
SKEEV
SKEEZ
SKEGG
SKEGS
SKEIF
SKEIN
SKELF
SKELL
SKELM
SKELP
SKEMP
SKENE
SKENS
SKEOS
SKEPS
SKERE
SKERM
SKERS
SKETE
SKETS
SKEWL
SKEWS
SKEWY
SLEBS
SLECK
SLEDS
SLEER
SLENT
SLETE
SLEWS
SLEYS
SMEEK
SMEER
SMEES
SMEIK
SMEKE
SMERK

5 Letter Words Starting With T With E as the 3rd Letter

TEETH
THEFT
THEIR
THEME
THERE
THESE
THETA
TREAD
TREAT
TREND
TWEAK
TWEED
TWEET
TEENS
TREES
TAELS
TEELS
TEEMS
TEEND
TEENE
TEENY
TEERS
TEEST
TEETS
TEETY
THEAH
THEAT
THEBE
THECA
THEED
THEEK
THEER
THEES
THEET
THEGN
THEIC
THEIN
THELF
THEMA
THENS
THEOL
THEOR
THEOS
THEOW
THERM
THESP
THETE
THEWS
THEWY
THEYD
TIEFS
TIENS
TIERS
TMEMA
TOEAS
TREAS
TRECK
TREED
TREEN
TREEY
TREFA
TREIF
TREKS
TREMA
TREMS
TRENT
TRESS
TREST
TRETS
TREWS
TREYF
TREYS
TSERE
TWEAG
TWEEG
TWEEL
TWEEN
TWEEP
TWEER
TWEIL
TWERE
TWERK
TWERP
TYEES
TYERS

5 Letter Words Starting With U With E as the 3rd Letter

USERS
UDELL
ULEMA
UMEST
UNETH
UNEYE
UPEAT
UPEND
UREAL
UREAS
UREDO
UREIC
UREID
URENA
URENT
USENS
USENT
USETA
UTEES
UTEND
UTERI
UTERO
UVEAL
UVEAS

5 Letter Words Starting With V With E as the 3rd Letter

VIEWS
VEENA
VEEPS
VEERS
VEERY
VIERS
VIEUX
VIEWY
VLEIS
VOEMA

5 Letter Words Starting With W With E as the 3rd Letter

WEEDY
WHEAT
WHEEL
WHELP
WHERE
WIELD
WREAK
WRECK
WREST
WEEKS
WAEFU
WEEDA
WEEDS
WEEIS
WEEKE
WEELS
WEEMS
WEENS
WEENT
WEENY
WEEPS
WEEPY
WEESH
WEEST
WEETE
WEETS
WEETY
WEEZE
WHEAL
WHEAM
WHEAR
WHEEK
WHEEM
WHEEN
WHEEP
WHEER
WHEFT
WHEIN
WHEKI
WHELK
WHELM
WHENS
WHETS
WHEWL
WHEWS
WHEWT
WHEYS
WIELS
WIERD
WREAT
WRENS

5 Letter Words Starting With Y With E as the 3rd Letter

YIELD
YEECH
YEEDS
YEEEK
YEESH
YFERE
YLEMS
YRENT

5 Letter Words Starting With Z With E as the 3rd Letter

ZEERA
ZIEGA
ZOEAE
ZOEAL
ZOEAS

Less Familiar Words Here

This page carries a lot of words most players would not define. Reading them once is quicker than meeting them cold in a puzzle.

GLEBA: Fleshy spore-bearing inner mass of e.g. a puffball or stinkhorn.
WHELM: Overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli.
SHERD: A broken piece of a brittle artifact.
THECA: Outer sheath of the pupa of certain insects.
DREAR: Causing dejection.
VEERY: Tawny brown North American thrush noted for its song.
FOEHN: A warm dry wind that blows down the northern slopes of the Alps.
ANELE: Administer an oil or ointment to ; often in a religious ceremony of blessing.
QUERN: A primitive stone mill for grinding corn by hand.
PSEUD: A person who makes deceitful pretenses.
POESY: Literature in metrical form. It is on the answer list.
UVEAL: Of or relating to the uvea of the eye.
THEBE: 100 thebe equal 1 pula in Botswana.
ABEAM: At right angles to the length of a ship or airplane.
AMENT: A cylindrical spikelike inflorescence.
EMEND: Make improvements or corrections to.
RHEUM: A watery discharge from the mucous membranes (especially from the eyes or nose).
CLEWS: The cords used to suspend a hammock.

FAQs

Can a Wordle answer have E in the middle?

Yes. THEIR, THERE and THESE have all been answers, so the pattern is worth playing for rather than ruling out.

Do any of these use the same letter twice?

Yes. THERE and THESE are two of them. Crossing off a letter after one grey square is the quickest way to miss an answer like these.

Is ACERB really a word?

Yes. Sour or bitter in taste. It has never been the puzzle, so keep it for Scrabble.

Which one has the best chance of just being the answer?

THEIR. It is the most ordinary word on this list that has already been the puzzle, so it is the guess to make when you want to win the round rather than learn from it.

Are all of these accepted as guesses?

Yes. Every word on this list is a legal guess, including the ones that look wrong. ZOEAS and ZOEAL are among them. Only a smaller set has ever been the answer, and those are the ones marked in green.

Which of these would most players overlook?

BLEAT, CLEAT and CREAK. All three are on the answer list, and none is a word you would reach for early, so they are worth remembering once the obvious guesses run out.