Kangaroo Words List & Definitions
Discover a comprehensive kangaroo words list with definitions of both kangaroo and joey words, organised alphabetically for easy reference.
What Are Kangaroo Words?
Kangaroo words are words that carry their own hidden synonyms inside them.
The larger word is called the kangaroo word.
The smaller hidden synonym is called the joey word.
You find the joey word by keeping the same letter order. You can skip letters, but you never rearrange them.
For example, Respite contains Rest. Both words share a similar meaning. The smaller word sits inside the larger one.
You can think of the larger word as carrying the smaller one. Just like a kangaroo carries its baby, known as a joey.
List of Kangaroo Words
In the list below, you will find numerous examples of kangaroo words arranged in alphabetical order.
Each entry shows the kangaroo word, the joey word, and their meanings so you can clearly see how they work and relate to each other.
A
Aberrant → Errant
Aberrant means departing from what is normal.
Errant means straying from the proper path.
Abide → Bide
Abide means to tolerate or remain.
Bide means to wait patiently.
Abnormality → Anomaly
Abnormality means something unusual.
Anomaly means something that differs from the norm.
Accustomed → Used
Accustomed means familiar through habit.
Used means made familiar by experience.
Acrid → Acid
Acrid means sharp or bitter in taste or smell.
Acid means sour or corrosive in nature.
Action → Act
Action means the process of doing something.
Act means to do something.
Addlepated → Addled
Addlepated means confused or silly.
Addled means muddled or unclear in thinking.
Adroitness → Art
Adroitness means skill or cleverness.
Art means skill gained through practice.
Affect → Act
Affect means to influence something.
Act means to take action.
Aggravated → Grated
Aggravated means made worse or irritated.
Grated means scraped or shredded.
Allocate → Allot
Allocate means to distribute or assign.
Allot means to give a share of something.
Allurement → Lure
Allurement means strong attraction.
Lure means to tempt or attract.
Alternative → Alternate
Alternative means another option.
Alternate means to switch back and forth.
Amicable → Amiable
Amicable means friendly and peaceful.
Amiable means pleasant and kind.
Antiquated → Antique
Antiquated means old-fashioned.
Antique means old and valuable.
Antiseptic → Aseptic
Antiseptic means preventing infection.
Aseptic means free from harmful bacteria.
Applaudatory → Laudatory
Applaudatory means expressing praise.
Laudatory means giving strong approval.
Apposite → Apt
Apposite means suitable for the situation.
Apt means appropriate or fitting.
Appropriate → Apt
Appropriate means suitable or proper.
Apt means fitting or suitable.
Arch → Arc
Arch means a curved structure.
Arc means a curved line.
Arena → Area
Arena means a place of activity or conflict.
Area means a defined space.
Asseverate → Aver
Asseverate means to declare firmly.
Aver means to state confidently.
Astound → Stun
Astound means to shock or amaze greatly.
Stun means to shock into silence.
Axletree → Axle
Axletree means the rod on which wheels turn.
Axle means a central shaft for a wheel.
B
Balderdash → Blah
Balderdash means nonsense or foolish talk.
Blah means dull or meaningless speech.
Balsam → Balm
Balsam means a soothing resin or ointment.
Balm means something that heals or comforts.
Banish → Ban
Banish means to send away or forbid.
Ban means to officially prohibit.
Barren → Bare
Barren means empty or unable to produce.
Bare means uncovered or empty.
Barrier → Bar
Barrier means something that blocks the way.
Bar means to block or prevent.
Barristers → Bar
Barristers are lawyers who argue cases in court.
Bar refers to the legal profession.
Because → As
Because means for the reason that.
As means since or because.
Befall → Be
Befall means to happen to someone.
Be means to exist or occur.
Before → Ere
Before means earlier than something else.
Ere means before in time.
Belated → Late
Belated means arriving later than expected.
Late means happening after the usual time.
Bemoan → Moan
Bemoan means to express sorrow or regret.
Moan means to complain or grieve.
Blatherskite → Blather
Blatherskite means a person who talks nonsense.
Blather means foolish or meaningless talk.
Blossom → Bloom
Blossom means to flower or develop fully.
Bloom means to produce flowers.
Blotch → Blot
Blotch means a stain or irregular mark.
Blot means a spot or stain.
Bombarded → Bombed
Bombarded means attacked repeatedly.
Bombed means struck with bombs.
Brackets → Braces
Brackets are punctuation marks or supports.
Braces are marks used in writing or supports.
Brash → Rash
Brash means bold without thinking.
Rash means acting without careful thought.
Brashness → Brass
Brashness means bold or rude behaviour.
Brass means boldness or confidence.
Breathe → Be
Breathe means to take air in and out.
Be means to exist.
Burst → Bust
Burst means to break open suddenly.
Bust means to break or smash.
C
Cacodemon → Demon
Cacodemon means an evil spirit.
Demon means a wicked or harmful spirit.
Calumnies → Lies
Calumnies means false and harmful statements.
Lies means untrue statements.
Cancel → Can
Cancel means to stop or call off.
Can means to be able to do something.
Canister → Case
Canister means a container for storage.
Case means a box or container.
Capsule → Case
Capsule means a small enclosed container.
Case means a container or covering.
Cartoon → Art
Cartoon means a humorous drawing.
Art means creative visual expression.
Casket → Case
Casket means a small box or coffin.
Case means a box or container.
Catacomb → Tomb
Catacomb means an underground burial place.
Tomb means a place where someone is buried.
Cavern → Cave
Cavern means a large cave.
Cave means a hollow space in rock.
Charge → Care
Charge means to demand payment or attack.
Care means attention or concern.
Charisma → Charm
Charisma means personal appeal or magnetism.
Charm means the power to attract or delight.
Chicken → Hen
Chicken means a domestic bird kept for eggs or meat.
Hen means a female chicken.
Chocolate → Cocoa
Chocolate means a sweet food made from cocoa beans.
Cocoa means powder made from roasted cacao beans.
Cleanse → Clean
Cleanse means to make clean.
Clean means free from dirt.
Cleanser → Cleaner
Cleanser means something that cleans.
Cleaner means a substance or person that cleans.
Cloistered → Closed
Cloistered means shut away from others.
Closed means not open.
Closemouthed → Mute
Closemouthed means secretive or unwilling to speak.
Mute means silent or unable to speak.
Clue → Cue
Clue means a hint or piece of evidence.
Cue means a signal to act.
Clump → Lump
Clump means a cluster or mass.
Lump means a small solid mass.
Completionist → Completist
Completionist means someone who finishes everything.
Completist means a person who aims to complete all items.
Confederate → One
Confederate means an ally or partner.
One means a single person.
Conjoin → Join
Conjoin means to unite or combine.
Join means to connect together.
Contaminate → Taint
Contaminate means to make impure.
Taint means to spoil or pollute.
Contradictory → Contrary
Contradictory means opposing in nature.
Contrary means opposite in direction or meaning.
Cooled → Cold
Cooled means made less warm.
Cold means low in temperature.
Corporeal → Corporal
Corporeal means physical or bodily.
Corporal means relating to the body.
Cozen → Con
Cozen means to trick or deceive.
Con means to swindle or cheat.
Curtail → Cut
Curtail means to reduce or shorten.
Cut means to remove or shorten.
D
Damsel → Dame
Damsel means a young woman.
Dame means a woman.
Daub → Dab
Daub means to smear or coat roughly.
Dab means to press lightly.
Dazzle → Daze
Dazzle means to impress or blind with brightness.
Daze means to stun or confuse.
Debar → Bar
Debar means to prevent from entering.
Bar means to block or forbid.
Deceased → Dead
Deceased means no longer living.
Dead means not alive.
Deception → Con
Deception means trickery or dishonesty.
Con means a trick or fraud.
Decoration → Decor
Decoration means something used to beautify.
Decor means the style of decoration in a place.
Definitive → Definite
Definitive means final and conclusive.
Definite means clear and certain.
Deliberated → Debated
Deliberated means thought about carefully.
Debated means discussed formally.
Demeaning → Mean
Demeaning means lowering someone’s dignity.
Mean means unkind or cruel.
Departed → Dead
Departed means having died.
Dead means no longer alive.
Department → Arm
Department means a division of an organisation.
Arm means a branch or division.
Depository → Depot
Depository means a place where things are stored.
Depot means a storage place.
Desiderate → Desire
Desiderate means to want strongly.
Desire means a strong wish.
Destruction → Ruin
Destruction means great damage.
Ruin means complete destruction.
Devilish → Evil
Devilish means wicked or cruel.
Evil means morally wrong.
Dillydally → Dally
Dillydally means to waste time.
Dally means to linger or delay.
Disappointed → Sad
Disappointed means feeling let down.
Sad means unhappy.
Discordance → Discord
Discordance means lack of harmony.
Discord means disagreement or conflict.
Disguise → Guise
Disguise means something that hides the truth.
Guise means an outward appearance.
Dismayed → Sad
Dismayed means shocked or upset.
Sad means unhappy.
Disputation → Spat
Disputation means an argument.
Spat means a small quarrel.
Disseminated → Sent
Disseminated means spread widely.
Sent means caused to go somewhere.
Dissever → Sever
Dissever means to separate.
Sever means to cut off.
Distressing → Dire
Distressing means causing anxiety or pain.
Dire means very serious or urgent.
Dominatable → Domitable
Dominatable means able to be controlled.
Domitable means capable of being subdued.
Domination → Dominion
Domination means control over others.
Dominion means rule or authority.
Donator → Donor
Donator means someone who gives.
Donor means a person who gives something.
Drunkard → Drunk
Drunkard means a person who drinks too much.
Drunk means affected by alcohol.
E
Effeminate → Effete
Effeminate means having traditionally feminine traits.
Effete means weak or worn out.
Encourage → Urge
Encourage means to give support or confidence.
Urge means to strongly persuade.
Enjoyment → Joy
Enjoyment means pleasure or happiness.
Joy means great happiness.
Entwined → Tied
Entwined means twisted together.
Tied means fastened together.
Equilateral → Equal
Equilateral means having equal sides.
Equal means the same in size or value.
Equitable → Equal
Equitable means fair and impartial.
Equal means the same in status or rights.
Eradicated → Rid
Eradicated means removed completely.
Rid means freed from something unwanted.
Evacuate → Vacate
Evacuate means to leave for safety.
Vacate means to leave a place.
Eventuality → Event
Eventuality means a possible future event.
Event means something that happens.
Evidenced → Evinced
Evidenced means shown clearly.
Evinced means revealed or made clear.
Exhausted → Used
Exhausted means extremely tired.
Used means worn from use.
Exhortatory → Hortatory
Exhortatory means strongly urging action.
Hortatory means giving advice or encouragement.
Exists → Is
Exists means has being or reality.
Is means exists.
Exposition → Expo
Exposition means a detailed explanation.
Expo means a large public exhibition.
Extraneous → Extra
Extraneous means irrelevant or unnecessary.
Extra means more than needed.
F
Fabrication → Fiction
Fabrication means something invented or made up.
Fiction means a story that is not true.
Facade → Face
Facade means the front of a building or false appearance.
Face means the front part of something.
Factual → Actual
Factual means based on truth.
Actual means real or true.
Falsified → Lied
Falsified means changed dishonestly.
Lied means told something untrue.
Falsities → Lies
Falsities means untrue statements.
Lies means statements that are not true.
Fanfaronade → Fanfare
Fanfaronade means boastful talk or display.
Fanfare means a showy display or loud flourish.
Feast → Eat
Feast means to eat a large meal.
Eat means to consume food.
Felicitous → Fit
Felicitous means well chosen or suitable.
Fit means suitable or appropriate.
Fraction → Ration
Fraction means a part of a whole.
Ration means a fixed portion.
G
Gigantic → Giant
Gigantic means extremely large.
Giant means something very large.
Grandiose → Grand
Grandiose means overly impressive or ambitious.
Grand means large or impressive.
Granulated → Grated
Granulated means made into small grains.
Grated means shredded into small pieces.
H
Hedgerow → Hedge
Hedgerow means a line of shrubs or small trees.
Hedge means a row of bushes forming a boundary.
History → Story
History means the study of past events.
Story means an account of events.
Honorable → Noble
Honorable means worthy of respect.
Noble means having high moral qualities.
Hostelry → Hotel
Hostelry means an inn or lodging place.
Hotel means a place that provides lodging.
Hurries → Hies
Hurries means moves quickly.
Hies means goes quickly.
I
Illuminated → Lit
Illuminated means filled with light.
Lit means made bright with light.
Imaginary → Airy
Imaginary means existing only in the mind.
Airy means light or unreal in nature.
Impair → Mar
Impair means to damage or weaken.
Mar means to spoil or damage.
Impassive → Passive
Impassive means showing no emotion.
Passive means not active or responsive.
Impertinent → Pert
Impertinent means rude or disrespectful.
Pert means bold or slightly rude.
Implicated → Implied
Implicated means involved or connected.
Implied means suggested without saying directly.
Incapability → Inability
Incapability means lack of ability.
Inability means lack of power to do something.
Indefinitely → Infinitely
Indefinitely means without a fixed limit.
Infinitely means without end.
Indentation → Dent
Indentation means a small hollow or notch.
Dent means a slight hollow in a surface.
Indolent → Idle
Indolent means lazy or inactive.
Idle means not active or working.
Infantile → Inane
Infantile means childish.
Inane means silly or foolish.
Infuriated → Irate
Infuriated means extremely angry.
Irate means very angry.
Inheritor → Heir
Inheritor means someone who receives property.
Heir means a person who inherits.
Insignia → Sign
Insignia means a badge or symbol.
Sign means a symbol or mark.
Instantaneous → Instant
Instantaneous means happening immediately.
Instant means happening at once.
Instructor → Tutor
Instructor means a person who teaches.
Tutor means a private teacher.
Interfuse → Infuse
Interfuse means to blend together.
Infuse means to fill or soak in.
Investigate → Vet
Investigate means to examine closely.
Vet means to examine carefully.
Irateness → Ire
Irateness means anger.
Ire means anger.
Irritated → Irate
Irritated means annoyed or angry.
Irate means very angry.
Isolated → Sole
Isolated means separated from others.
Sole means only or single.
J
Jollity → Joy
Jollity means cheerful enjoyment.
Joy means great happiness.
Joviality → Joy
Joviality means friendly cheerfulness.
Joy means great happiness.
K
Kindred → Kin
Kindred means related by family or nature.
Kin means family or relatives.
L
Latest → Last
Latest means most recent.
Last means coming after all others.
Lighted → Lit
Lighted means made bright.
Lit means illuminated.
M
Malapert → Pert
Malapert means boldly disrespectful.
Pert means boldly forward or slightly rude.
Market → Mart
Market means a place where goods are bought and sold.
Mart means a market or trading place.
Masculine → Male
Masculine means relating to men or boys.
Male means of the sex that produces sperm.
Matches → Mates
Matches means pairs or suitable partners.
Mates means partners or companions.
Midsection → Midst
Midsection means the middle part.
Midst means the middle of something.
Miniature → Mini
Miniature means very small.
Mini means something small in size.
Misinterpreted → Erred
Misinterpreted means understood incorrectly.
Erred means made a mistake.
Moisture → Mist
Moisture means small amounts of water.
Mist means fine drops of water in the air.
Municipality → City
Municipality means a town or city with local government.
City means a large town.
Myself → Me
Myself refers to the speaker.
Me refers to the speaker as an object.
N
Neckbeard → Nerd
Neckbeard refers to a socially awkward man.
Nerd means a person seen as overly intellectual or awkward.
Neurotic → Nut
Neurotic means overly anxious or obsessive.
Nut means a crazy or eccentric person.
Newfangled → New
Newfangled means modern in a showy way.
New means recently made or discovered.
Nodule → Node
Nodule means a small lump.
Node means a small point or connection.
O
Obligated → Obliged
Obligated means required by duty.
Obliged means grateful or required to act.
Obnoxious → Noxious
Obnoxious means very unpleasant.
Noxious means harmful or poisonous.
Observe → See
Observe means to notice or watch.
See means to perceive with the eyes.
Oldfangled → Old
Oldfangled means outdated or old-fashioned.
Old means not new.
Ornamented → Ornate
Ornamented means decorated in detail.
Ornate means highly decorated.
Outspokenly → Openly
Outspokenly means speaking honestly and directly.
Openly means without hiding feelings.
P
Pantaloons → Pants
Pantaloons means loose trousers.
Pants means trousers.
Partially → Partly
Partially means not completely.
Partly means to some extent.
Pellucid → Lucid
Pellucid means very clear.
Lucid means easy to understand.
Perimeter → Rim
Perimeter means the outer boundary.
Rim means the outer edge.
Perorate → Orate
Perorate means to speak at length.
Orate means to speak formally.
Personality → Persona
Personality means someone’s character or traits.
Persona means the image a person presents.
Pinioned → Pinned
Pinioned means tied or held fast.
Pinned means fastened with a pin.
Plagiarist → Liar
Plagiarist means someone who copies dishonestly.
Liar means someone who tells lies.
Platter → Plate
Platter means a large serving dish.
Plate means a flat dish for food.
Playfellow → Pal
Playfellow means a friend or companion.
Pal means a close friend.
Plush → Lush
Plush means soft and luxurious.
Lush means rich or abundant.
Postured → Posed
Postured means arranged or positioned.
Posed means held in a position.
Practicable → Practical
Practicable means able to be done.
Practical means useful or sensible.
Practioner → Actor
Practioner means someone who practises a profession.
Actor means a person who performs in plays or films.
Prattle → Prate
Prattle means to talk foolishly.
Prate means to talk at length about trivial matters.
Precipitation → Rain
Precipitation means moisture falling from the sky.
Rain means water falling from clouds.
Prematurely → Early
Prematurely means before the proper time.
Early means before the expected time.
Primogenitor → Progenitor
Primogenitor means a first ancestor.
Progenitor means an ancestor or originator.
Proffer → Offer
Proffer means to present for acceptance.
Offer means to present something to someone.
Promenade → Road
Promenade means a walkway for strolling.
Road means a path for travel.
Proportionate → Prorate
Proportionate means in correct relation to something else.
Prorate means to divide proportionally.
Prosecute → Sue
Prosecute means to bring legal action.
Sue means to take legal action against someone.
Q
Quiescent → Quiet
Quiescent means inactive or still.
Quiet means making little or no noise.
Quintuplet → Quintet
Quintuplet means one of five born together.
Quintet means a group of five.
R
Rambunctious → Raucous
Rambunctious means noisy and energetic.
Raucous means loud and harsh.
Rampage → Rage
Rampage means violent or reckless behaviour.
Rage means intense anger.
Ransack → Sack
Ransack means to search roughly.
Sack means to plunder or dismiss.
Rapscallion → Rascal
Rapscallion means a mischievous person.
Rascal means a dishonest or playful person.
Ravaging → Raging
Ravaging means causing severe damage.
Raging means continuing with great force.
Recapitulate → Recap
Recapitulate means to summarise.
Recap means a brief summary.
Recline → Lie
Recline means to lean back.
Lie means to rest in a flat position.
Refurbishment → Refit
Refurbishment means renovation or improvement.
Refit means to repair or renovate.
Regulated → Ruled
Regulated means controlled by rules.
Ruled means governed or controlled.
Remorsefulness → Rue
Remorsefulness means deep regret.
Rue means to regret.
Reoccurrence → Recurrence
Reoccurrence means happening again.
Recurrence means the act of occurring again.
Respite → Rest
Respite means a short break or relief.
Rest means a period of relaxation.
Retrogress → Regress
Retrogress means to go backward.
Regress means to return to a previous state.
Revivified → Revived
Revivified means brought back to life.
Revived means restored to life or strength.
Revolution → Revolt
Revolution means a dramatic change or uprising.
Revolt means to rise in rebellion.
Rotund → Round
Rotund means rounded in shape.
Round means shaped like a circle.
S
Salvage → Save
Salvage means to rescue from loss.
Save means to keep from harm.
Satiate → Sate
Satiate means to satisfy fully.
Sate means to satisfy completely.
Satisfied → Sated
Satisfied means content or fulfilled.
Sated means fully satisfied.
Scallywag → Scally
Scallywag means a mischievous person.
Scally means a playful troublemaker.
Scion → Son
Scion means a descendant.
Son means a male child.
Scoundrel → Cur
Scoundrel means a dishonest person.
Cur means a contemptible person.
Scrub → Rub
Scrub means to clean by rubbing.
Rub means to move something back and forth.
Sculpt → Cut
Sculpt means to shape by carving.
Cut means to divide with a sharp tool.
Separated → Parted
Separated means divided or split.
Parted means divided or separated.
Sextuplet → Sextet
Sextuplet means one of six born together.
Sextet means a group of six.
Shadowy → Shady
Shadowy means dark or mysterious.
Shady means giving shade or suspicious.
Shushed → Hushed
Shushed means made quiet.
Hushed means silent or calm.
Shuttering → Shutting
Shuttering means closing or blocking.
Shutting means closing something.
Signal → Sign
Signal means a sign or message.
Sign means a symbol or indication.
Slithered → Slid
Slithered means moved smoothly along a surface.
Slid means moved smoothly across.
Spittle → Spit
Spittle means saliva.
Spit means saliva or to eject saliva.
Splinter → Splint
Splinter means a small sharp fragment.
Splint means a strip used to support a broken bone.
Splotch → Spot
Splotch means a blot or mark.
Spot means a small mark.
Splutter → Sputter
Splutter means to speak in bursts.
Sputter means to speak in broken bursts.
Sprightly → Spry
Sprightly means lively and energetic.
Spry means active and nimble.
Squashed → Quashed
Squashed means crushed flat.
Quashed means rejected or suppressed.
Stealthy → Sly
Stealthy means secretive or quiet.
Sly means cunning or secretive.
Stocking → Sock
Stocking means a long garment for the foot and leg.
Sock means a short covering for the foot.
Strives → Tries
Strives means attempts seriously.
Tries means attempts to do something.
Stumble → Tumble
Stumble means to trip or fall awkwardly.
Tumble means to fall suddenly.
Substandard → Bad
Substandard means below the usual level.
Bad means not good.
Superb → Super
Superb means excellent.
Super means very good.
Superimpose → Superpose
Superimpose means to place over something else.
Superpose means to place one thing over another.
Supervisor → Superior
Supervisor means someone who oversees others.
Superior means higher in rank or quality.
Supplicant → Suppliant
Supplicant means someone who begs humbly.
Suppliant means asking humbly.
Supremacist → Racist
Supremacist means someone who believes their group is superior.
Racist means someone who believes one race is superior.
Surceased → Ceased
Surceased means stopped.
Ceased means came to an end.
Surfeited → Fed
Surfeited means overly satisfied.
Fed means supplied with food.
Sweaty → Wet
Sweaty means covered in sweat.
Wet means covered with liquid.
T
Teetotal → Total
Teetotal means completely abstaining from alcohol.
Total means complete or whole.
Tracked → Traced
Tracked means followed closely.
Traced means followed the path of something.
Transgression → Sin
Transgression means a violation or wrongdoing.
Sin means a moral wrongdoing.
Trustworthy → Trusty
Trustworthy means reliable and honest.
Trusty means dependable and reliable.
Truthfully → Truly
Truthfully means honestly.
Truly means in a truthful way.
U
Umpteenth → Nth
Umpteenth means many times over.
Nth means an unspecified large number.
Unanimity → Unity
Unanimity means complete agreement.
Unity means being joined together.
Underneath → Under
Underneath means below something else.
Under means beneath or below.
Unsightly → Ugly
Unsightly means unpleasant to look at.
Ugly means not attractive.
Utilising → Using
Utilising means making use of something.
Using means employing something for a purpose.
V
Variegated → Varied
Variegated means showing many colours or types.
Varied means showing differences or diversity.
Veracity → Verity
Veracity means truthfulness.
Verity means truth.
W
Weakening → Waning
Weakening means becoming less strong.
Waning means gradually decreasing.
Wealth → Weal
Wealth means abundance of valuable resources.
Weal means prosperity or well-being.
Y
Yearning → Yen
Yearning means a deep longing.
Yen means a strong desire.
Origin of Kangaroo Words
Kangaroo words were originally popularized as a word game in the 1950s, after Ben O’Dell introduced the concept in volume 151 of The American Magazine.
A kangaroo carries its baby in a pouch. The baby is called a joey.
Word lovers borrowed this idea and used it to describe hidden synonyms inside larger words.
The larger word acts like the kangaroo and carries the word. The smaller synonym acts like the joey and sits inside the larger word. This formed what we know as kangaroo words.
You now see kangaroo words in puzzles and vocabulary lessons.
Conclusion
Kangaroo words are English words that contain smaller hidden synonyms within them.
In this kangaroo words list, you can see how each larger word carries its own “joey” word while keeping the same letter order.
Now that you understand how kangaroo words work and where the term originated, try spotting new ones on your own. You may find that English hides more clever word connections than you first realized.
You can revisit this kangaroo words list whenever you need examples, teaching material, or inspiration for word games.
