Words Ending With EST
100 wordsWords ending in EST form one of English's most versatile suffixes, creating superlatives, nouns, and verbs alike. From the zesty punch of ZEST to the sprawling syllables of UNFRIENDLIEST, this ending adapts to nearly any root word you throw at it.
3-letter words
14-letter words
115-letter words
46-letter words
267-letter words
258-letter words
199-letter words
1010-letter words
4Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The EST ending rewards players who understand both its superlative power and its standalone word potential.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
EST serves double duty in English. As a suffix, it transforms adjectives into superlatives—big becomes biggest, fast becomes fastest. But EST also appears in standalone words like GUEST, QUEST, and ZEST, where it's not a suffix at all but part of the word's original structure. This dual nature means EST words span from simple three-letter plays to elaborate thirteen-letter superlatives.
Total Words
985
0.3% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.2 letters
2.8 syllables
Top Scrabble
JAZZIEST
33 points
Longest Word
UNFRIENDLIEST
13 letters
Parts of Speech
With 46% nouns and only 13% adjectives, EST words aren't dominated by superlatives as you might expect. The pattern's average length of 8.2 letters reflects those extended superlative forms, while the 2.8 syllables per word confirms most EST words carry substantial linguistic weight.
Middle English dominates this pattern, which makes sense given that EST as a superlative suffix developed during that period. The etymology chain of GUEST traces a fascinating Nordic path—from Old Norse gestr through Proto-Norse, reflecting Viking influence on English. Meanwhile, INQUEST shows the French legal tradition entering English through Old French enqueste.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
JAZZIEST tops both games, but the gap widens significantly in Words With Friends at 35 points versus Scrabble's 33. The real strategic difference shows in words like BEQUEST—WWF's boosted Q value (10 vs Scrabble's 10, but with different board multipliers) makes Q-words more attractive. ZEST and JEST tie at 13 points in WWF, making them interchangeable openers, while Scrabble gives ZEST the edge at 13 versus JEST's 11.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
GUEST and CHEST make excellent Wordle starters, each testing common consonants (G, C, H) alongside the frequent EST ending. CREST adds R to the mix—one of English's most common consonants—while QUEST checks the tricky Q early.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
The pattern stretches from the tiny EST itself to the sprawling UNFRIENDLIEST at 13 letters. This range exists because EST works both as a complete word and as a productive suffix that attaches to adjectives of any length.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
a fight with bare fists
a low seat or a stool to rest the feet of a seated person
a cushion attached to the top of the back of an automobile's seat to prevent whiplash
highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)
SLUGFEST deserves more attention—it means a fight with bare fists and scores respectably in both games. The compound structure (SLUG + FEST) follows a productive English pattern where FEST indicates a gathering or occasion, making SLUGFEST a particularly vivid way to describe an unrefined brawl.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.
More "EST" Pages
Browse words by longer letter combinations starting with "EST".