Words Containing W
100 wordsW words carry a distinctive weight in English, from ancient Germanic roots to modern coinages. This collection spans everyday vocabulary alongside rare gems that can transform your word game strategy.
2-letter words
13-letter words
164-letter words
305-letter words
266-letter words
97-letter words
118-letter words
49-letter words
210-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The letter W presents unique opportunities across word games, with high-scoring combinations and strategic versatility that reward players who know where to look.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
W rarely appears in word endings, making it a distinctly front-loaded letter. Most W words trace to Germanic origins, where the sound represented a bilabial approximant. The -ware suffix (software, activewear) remains productive in modern English, spawning new compounds as technology and fashion evolve.
Total Words
6,674
2.2% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.1 letters
2.4 syllables
Top Scrabble
WHIZZINGLY
38 points
Longest Word
STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS
19 letters
Parts of Speech
At 68% nouns, W words skew heavily toward naming things rather than describing or doing. The 2.4-syllable average reflects W's preference for compact, punchy vocabulary over elaborate constructions.
Middle English and Old English dominate W's ancestry, making this one of the most thoroughly Germanic letters in the alphabet. Words like WELL trace an unbroken line through Proto-Germanic to ancient roots. The occasional Sanskrit borrowing like SWAMI shows how W sometimes adapts foreign sounds, but the core vocabulary remains firmly rooted in Northern Europe.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
make a soft swishing sound
easily impressed or influenced
British slang for a swindle
Medium (5-7)
move along very quickly
any of various tall frothy mixed drinks made usually of rum and lime juice and sugar shaken with ice
Long (8+)
a small high-velocity shell; it makes a whizzing sound followed by a bang when it hits
nonsensical language (according to Lewis Carroll)
Short (2-4)
make a soft swishing sound
the jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth
Medium (5-7)
any of various tall frothy mixed drinks made usually of rum and lime juice and sugar shaken with ice
move along very quickly
Long (8+)
nonsensical language (according to Lewis Carroll)
BUZZWIG scores 31 in Scrabble but jumps to 34 in Words With Friends, thanks to WWF's higher Z value. WHIZ demonstrates the reverse pattern—its simpler structure means the scoring gap narrows between games. JABBERWOCKY delivers massive points in both formats, but WWF rewards it slightly more at 38 versus 34. When W combines with J or Z, WWF consistently outpaces Scrabble scoring.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
WATER and WRITE both test W position while covering different vowel-consonant spreads. SWEAR offers strong consonant variety with two common vowels, making it effective for elimination plays.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
W supports extremes well—two-letter words like WE function as essential building blocks, while compounds like STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS stretch to 19 letters. The letter's Germanic heritage favors both blunt monosyllables and elaborate compound constructions.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
attire worn for sport or for casual wear
at an oblique angle
a statement asserting the existence or the truth of something
an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 119 pounds
ATHWART means positioned at an oblique angle—useful for describing boats cutting across waves or beams crossing a structure. Beyond its nautical precision, it scores respectably in word games and catches opponents off guard. The TH-W combination alone makes it memorable.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.
More "W" Pages
Browse words by longer letter combinations starting with "W".