9-Letter Words

100 words

Nine-letter words hit a sweet spot in English—long enough to carry complex meaning, short enough to stay manageable. This collection spans everything from technical terminology to everyday vocabulary, offering serious ammunition for word games and crossword puzzles alike.

Words starting with A

11

Words starting with B

7

Words starting with C

17

Words starting with D

9

Words starting with E

8

Words starting with F

3

Words starting with G

2

Words starting with H

2

Words starting with I

6

Words starting with K

1

Words starting with L

1

Words starting with M

1

Words starting with N

3

Words starting with O

4

Words starting with P

4

Words starting with R

2

Words starting with S

13

Words starting with T

3

Words starting with W

2

Words starting with Y

1

Pattern Guide

Insights and recommendations for these words.

Nine letters give you room to work with prefixes, roots, and suffixes in satisfying combinations.

Vocabulary & Language

Linguistic patterns and usage statistics

Many 9-letter words form through reliable patterns: base words plus '-ness' (HAPPINESS), '-tion' (EDUCATION), or '-ing' endings (SOMETHING). The '-ful' and '-less' suffixes also land here frequently, creating natural opposites like BEAUTIFUL and HEARTLESS. This length captures where English grammar meets vocabulary expansion.

Total Words

16,970

5.7% of dictionary

Top Scrabble

QUIZZICAL

38 points

Parts of Speech

Nouns
63%
Verbs
9%
Adjectives
26%
Adverbs
3%
Other
0%

Latin and Middle English dominate this word length almost equally, reflecting centuries of parallel influence on English vocabulary. The Latin contribution often comes through formal and scientific terminology, while Middle English preserves everyday words that evolved through common use. French connections frequently bridge the two, as seen in words like ALABASTER tracing through Old French back to Latin.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 9-Letter Words

QUIZZICAL

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

38 pts
WHIZZBANG

a small high-velocity shell; it makes a whizzing sound followed by a bang when it hits

36 pts
JAZZINESS
34 pts
BLIZZARDY
33 pts
BUZZINGLY
33 pts
PUZZLEDLY
33 pts
EMBEZZLED

taken for your own use in violation of a trust

32 pts
SCHNOZZLE

informal terms for the nose

32 pts

QUIZZICAL reigns supreme in both games, but WWF rewards it even more generously at 41 points versus 38 in Scrabble. The double-Z words shine here—WHIZZBANG, JAZZINESS, and BUZZINGLY all score in the 30s. BLACKJACK appears exclusively in the WWF top scorers at 36 points, benefiting from WWF's higher valuation of J. When you've got the letters for EMBEZZLED, you're looking at 32-35 points depending on your game.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

ABSCESSED

infected and filled with pus

"an abscessed tooth"

ACTUATION

the act of propelling

AERIALIST

an acrobat who performs in the air (as on a rope or trapeze)

AGREEABLY

in an enjoyable manner

AERIALIST describes an acrobat who performs in the air, whether on trapeze, tightrope, or silks. Beyond its circus charm, this word packs four vowels including a useful double-I structure. It's the kind of legitimate but unexpected play that catches opponents off guard.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.