Why I Win Washington Post’s ‘Keyword’ Game Every Single Time

If you want a real good challenge, and you need to win it, this post is for you. We’ll discuss 

• Stratergies
• Rules
• Tips and
• Hints

I have used to win the world’s most popular keyword challenge.

Imagine this — you’re sipping your morning coffee, scrolling through the news, when you spot it: the daily Keyword puzzle from The Washington Post. 

You tell yourself you’ll just take a quick look, but before you know it, you’re racking your brain, testing different six-letter words, and trying to crack the code with as few guesses as possible. Sound familiar?

If you’re hooked on the Washington Post Keyword game, you’re not alone. This daily word puzzle has taken the internet by storm, challenging players to think critically, recognize word patterns, and sharpen their vocabulary skills. 

Want to know how much is playing this? Here are the statistics I got from Semrush.

But here’s the thing — some days, the puzzle feels impossible. Maybe the Washington Post keyword answer today isn’t clicking, or you’re staring at the screen, wondering where to even start.

That’s where my mighty guide comes in. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a few Keyword hints or a serious competitor trying to improve your score, I’ve got you covered. We’ll break down the rules, uncover smart strategies, and even dive into the best ways to approach tricky puzzles.

Ready to level up your game? Let’s get started.

How to Play the Washington Post Keyword Game?

The Washington Post Keyword game is a unique word puzzle where players must guess a six-letter “keyword” that completes a set of six partially revealed words. 

Think of it as a mix between Wordle and a crossword, except that instead of guessing random words, you need to find one perfect keyword that fits into multiple words at once. Let’s talk about its rules. Because you’ll need it!

Basic Rules of the Keyword Game

1. Each puzzle has six incomplete words. 

Your goal is to figure out the missing six-letter keyword that fits into all of them.

2. You have unlimited guesses

Unlike some other word puzzles, there’s no limit to how many times you can guess. However, the fewer attempts you take, the better your score.

3. Use feedback to refine your guesses

Each time you enter a keyword, the game highlights correct letters to guide you toward the right answer.

4. Scoring is based on efficiency

The best possible score is solving the puzzle in just six guesses (one correct letter per attempt). The fewer tries you take, the higher your ranking.

5. Daily puzzles & bonus rounds 

A new puzzle drops every day, and if you get three perfect scores in a week, you unlock bonus challenges.

Clear with the rules! Great. Now it’s time to know how to play this game, because obviously you may be a first timer!

Step-by-Step Guide to Playing the Keyword Game

Each game will start with a grid of boxes or circles featuring six horizontal words. Each of these words is missing letters that are part of a six-letter keyword.

Your job is to figure out what that keyword is.

Let’s talk about some key things you need to know during the play.

Look at the given words

Each word will have a blank space where the keyword belongs. For example:

• The keyword must fit into all three words to create valid terms (e.g., “PROOF” → SUNPROOF, WATERPROOF, FIREPROOF).

Start with a strong first guess

Choose a common six-letter word that seems to fit multiple words. This helps reveal useful letter placements.

Pay attention to feedback

The game provides hints by highlighting correct letters. Use this to refine your next guess.

So, there are colors, right? Here in this game, you’ll see different colored tiles for various meanings. Let’s get to know what they say.

Blank Squares:

At the start, everything is like this. All empty. These letters haven’t been guessed yet. You better start guessing!

Circles:

If you see a letter inside a circle, that means the letter appears in a selected word but is not necessarily in the correct position. Mmm! That’s tough! (no, it is not)!

Green Squares:

Green means good, right? That’s universal. You’ve guessed the correct letter in the correct position if you’re seeing a green box.

Red/Pink Squares:

This indicates that the letter is incorrect and doesn’t fit in the word at all (this letter doesn’t even belong in any place in this word). So, you don’t even need to worry about that letter.

Alright! Those are the colored tips you need. But there’s more!

Adjust based on clues

If some letters are correct but in the wrong place, rearrange them in your next attempt.

Keep guessing until you find the correct keyword

The game ends when you complete all six words.

The key to winning the Keyword puzzle isn’t just luck — it’s strategy. Up next, I’ll share some of the best tips and tricks to help you solve puzzles faster and improve your daily scores.

Tips and Strategies to Win the Washington Post Keyword Game

Some days the guesses are really simple, while there are times it feels like you can never find out the correct keyword. The difference? Strategy. If you want to consistently solve the puzzle in fewer attempts and even unlock the Keyword game bonus rounds, you need a game plan.

Here are some Keyword strategies I have tested while playing the game to help win more often and improve daily scores.

1. Start with Vowels

Your first keyword guess sets the tone for the entire game. Instead of randomly picking a six-letter word, choose one that has:

• A mix of vowels and consonants
• Common letter combinations (like “ING” or “TION”)
• The potential to fit multiple words

Example:
If your puzzle has words like SUN(______), FIRE(______), and WATER(______), a smart first guess might be “PROOF” (SUNPROOF, FIREPROOF, WATERPROOF).

2. Use the Feedback to Your Advantage

After each guess, the game highlights correct letters. Here’s how to interpret the feedback smartly:

• If a letter is correct and in the right place, keep it in your next attempt.
• If a letter is correct but in the wrong place, move it around in your next guess.
• Eliminate it from future guesses if a letter isn’t in the word at all.

Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on one word — think about how the letters work across all six words in the puzzle.

3. Look for Common Prefixes and Suffixes

Many Keyword game answers follow common word-building patterns. If you’re stuck, try adding or removing common prefixes and suffixes:

Common Prefixes: 

Common Suffixes:

Example: If your words include RE(______) and UN(______), The keyword is likely something that works as both a prefix and a root word.

4. Solve the Shortest Words First

If one of your six words has fewer letters, solve that one first — it gives you fewer possibilities to work with and helps you narrow down the correct keyword faster.

5. Keep a Running List of Past Answers

The Washington Post Keyword answers today might give you an idea of what words the game typically uses. If you notice patterns in past solutions, it can help you guess faster in future games.

6. Practice Daily to Improve Pattern Recognition

Just like Wordle, crossword puzzles, or Scrabble, playing the Keyword game daily will train your brain to recognize word patterns and letter placements much faster.

How to make it a daily habit?
 ✔ Play every morning with your coffee ☕
 ✔ Set a personal goal (e.g., solve in under 10 guesses)
 ✔ Challenge friends and share your scores