Words Containing S
100 wordsS is the workhorse of English letters, appearing in nearly one-sixth of all dictionary entries. From simple two-letter words to sprawling medical terminology, this collection showcases the remarkable versatility of words containing S.
2-letter words
43-letter words
164-letter words
315-letter words
236-letter words
177-letter words
48-letter words
39-letter words
110-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The letter S pulls double duty in word games—it pluralizes for easy points while anchoring some of the highest-scoring words in competitive play.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The prefix 'sub-' (under) and suffix '-ness' (state of being) account for thousands of S-words, making this letter essential for building vocabulary through word parts. Words with double S often trace back to Latin superlatives or intensifiers. The '-ism' and '-ist' suffixes transformed S into the letter of ideologies and their adherents.
Total Words
49,331
16.4% of dictionary
Avg Length
9.6 letters
3.3 syllables
Top Scrabble
HYPOPHYSECTOMIZING
48 points
Longest Word
BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE
20 letters
Parts of Speech
With 65% nouns and 23% adjectives, S-words lean heavily toward naming things and describing them. The 9.6-letter average length reflects how S frequently appears in compound words and technical vocabulary rather than short, punchy terms.
Middle English dominates the ancestry of S-words, reflecting this letter's deep roots in everyday Anglo-Saxon vocabulary. Latin and Ancient Greek contributions often arrived through scientific and religious terminology. The journey of STURGEON—from Medieval Latin through Old French to Middle English—shows how words traveled with trade goods and cultural exchange.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
British slang for a swindle
Medium (5-7)
any of various tall frothy mixed drinks made usually of rum and lime juice and sugar shaken with ice
Long (8+)
having the pituitary gland removed by surgery
remove the pituitary glands
Short (2-4)
British slang for a swindle
Medium (5-7)
Long (8+)
having the pituitary gland removed by surgery
inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva
QUIZZES scores 34 points in Scrabble but jumps to 35 in Words With Friends, where Q maintains its premium value. The medical monster HYPOPHYSECTOMIZING tops both games but gains 2 extra points in WWF. For accessible plays, SWIZZLE delivers 28 points in Scrabble using common tiles—a solid score without requiring a blank for the Z.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
FIRST and THOSE make excellent opening moves, together covering five vowels and testing high-frequency consonants like T, R, and H. YEARS adds the common Y while checking S position.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
The shortest S-words (AS, IS, OS) serve as grammatical glue, while the longest reach 20 letters in scientific compounds. BUCKMINSTERFULLERENE—a carbon molecule named after an architect—shows how science creates dictionary giants.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
infected and filled with pus
"an abscessed tooth"
strong green liqueur flavored with wormwood and anise
the principle of complete and unrestricted power in government
a formal charge of wrongdoing brought against a person; the act of imputing blame or guilt
ACCUSAL means a formal charge of wrongdoing—the act of imputing blame or guilt. This noun form of 'accuse' surprises many players who reach for the more common 'accusation.' It's shorter, uses friendly tiles, and opens parallel play opportunities on the board.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.