Words Ending With ENCE
100 wordsWords ending in ENCE form abstract nouns that describe states, qualities, and processes. This Latin-rooted suffix transforms adjectives and verbs into concepts—turning 'different' into DIFFERENCE and 'patient' into PATIENCE. Here you'll find everything from everyday vocabulary to scientific terminology that can dominate word game boards.
5-letter words
36-letter words
37-letter words
88-letter words
179-letter words
1910-letter words
2411-letter words
1012-letter words
1313-letter words
214-letter words
1Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The ENCE ending creates some of the most satisfying long words in English, combining familiar roots with substantial point values.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
The suffix ENCE typically attaches to Latin-derived roots to create abstract nouns describing states or qualities. It's the nominal form of adjectives ending in ENT—hence DIFFERENT becomes DIFFERENCE and VIOLENT becomes VIOLENCE. Scientific vocabulary loves this ending particularly, spawning technical terms like LUMINESCENCE and FLUORESCENCE that describe observable phenomena.
Total Words
393
0.1% of dictionary
Avg Length
10.7 letters
3.4 syllables
Top Scrabble
QUINQUEVALENCE
37 points
Longest Word
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE
19 letters
Parts of Speech
With 96% nouns, ENCE words are almost exclusively abstract concepts rather than actions or descriptions. The average length of 10.7 letters reflects how this suffix builds upon complex root words, creating the substantial terms that vocabulary enthusiasts love.
Latin dominates ENCE words, often filtering through French before reaching English. The chain from PATIENCE shows this journey clearly: Latin PATIENTIA became Old French PACIENCE before settling into Middle English. French served as the critical bridge language, refining Latin abstractions for everyday medieval use before English adopted them wholesale.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Long (8+)
luminescence resulting from a chemical reaction as the oxidation of luciferin in fireflies
(immunology) a technique that uses antibodies linked to a fluorescent dye in order to study antigens in a sample of tissue
a fluorescence that persists after the bombarding radiation has ceased
Medium (5-7)
a transgression that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right
Long (8+)
luminescence resulting from a chemical reaction as the oxidation of luciferin in fireflies
(immunology) a technique that uses antibodies linked to a fluorescent dye in order to study antigens in a sample of tissue
the ability to develop an immune response following exposure to an antigen
QUINQUEVALENCE towers over both games at 37 points in Scrabble and 44 in WWF. The medium-length words show interesting scoring shifts: OFFENCE jumps from 15 to 17 points between games due to WWF's different letter values. In WWF, consider FLUENCE and LUCENCE (both 16 points) as efficient plays that don't appear in Scrabble dictionaries. The scientific terms like CHEMILUMINESCENCE and IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE offer massive scoring potential if you can find the board space.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
No short ENCE words exist because the suffix itself requires four letters. The pattern naturally attracts longer words since ENCE attaches to already-substantial roots, with COUNTERINTELLIGENCE stretching to 19 letters.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
the quality of agreeing; being suitable and appropriate
the property of excessive fatness
the visual property of something having a milky brightness and a play of colors from the surface
peaceful resistance to a government by fasting or refusing to cooperate
IRIDESCENCE describes the milky brightness and shifting colors that play across a surface—think soap bubbles or peacock feathers. Beyond its poetic meaning, it's a valid 11-letter word that combines common letters with solid scoring potential. The word itself captures something beautiful that's difficult to describe otherwise.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.