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Updated June 2026
Plural of cilium; tiny hair-like structures on cell surfaces that create movement.
“The cilia in the respiratory tract help sweep mucus and debris upward.”
cil·i·a
"Cilia" repeats a letter (4 unique of 5), so it rules out fewer options as an opening guess. Its 3 vowels help pin down vowel positions early.
"Cilia" is worth 7 points before board bonuses. Aim its letters at double/triple-letter and word squares to lift the score.
Change a single letter of “cilia” to make these 5-letter words — useful for Wordle and crossword clues.
6-letter words you can spell by adding one letter to “cilia”.
Look up cilia in an authoritative dictionary for full definitions, pronunciation, and etymology.
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