5-Letter Words Ending With SE

100 words

Five-letter words ending in -SE cover remarkable range, from everyday verbs like CHASE and RINSE to nautical terms and archaic vocabulary. This pattern rewards players who know both the common choices and the obscure alternatives that opponents won't expect.

Pattern Guide

Word recommendations for board games.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 5-Letter Words

JESSE
12 pts
HAWSE

the hole that an anchor rope passes through

11 pts
WHOSE

The possessive case of who or which.

11 pts
BOWSE

haul with a tackle

10 pts
CHASE

cut a furrow into a columns

10 pts
10 pts
PHASE

a particular point in the time of a cycle; measured from some arbitrary zero and expressed as an angle

10 pts
COPSE

a dense growth of bushes

9 pts

JESSE tops both Scrabble and WWF lists, but the J scores differently—10 points in WWF versus 8 in Scrabble, making it even more valuable in Words With Friends. HAWSE demonstrates the H-tile gap: worth 11 points in Scrabble but drops to 10 in WWF since H carries less weight there. COPSE jumps from 9 points in Scrabble to 11 in WWF, making this little grove of trees surprisingly competitive across both games.

Wordle

5-letter words for daily puzzles

Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)

THESEStarter
THOSEStarter
CAUSEStarter

any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results

WORSEStarter

changed for the worse in health or fitness

Common Words (likely answers)

THESECommon
THOSECommon
HOUSECommon

provide housing for

CAUSECommon

any entity that produces an effect or is responsible for events or results

THOSE and CAUSE make strong opening moves, each testing two vowels alongside common consonants. WORSE pairs well as a follow-up, introducing W and R while reusing strategic vowel positions.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

CORSE

a region of France on the island of Corsica; birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte

DOWSE

slacken

ABASE

cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

MANSE

a large and imposing house

MANSE refers to a large, imposing house—specifically the residence provided to clergy. It's a valid Scrabble word that many players overlook, and its common letters make it easy to form when HOUSE or RINSE won't fit the board.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.

More "SE" Pages

Browse words by longer letter combinations starting with "SE".