5-Letter Words With S in the Middle

40 words

The middle S acts as a bridge in five-letter words, often connecting prefixes to roots or creating plural-adjacent patterns. This position yields words that feel familiar yet frequently surprise players in competitive word games.

Pattern Guide

Word recommendations for board games.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 5-Letter Words

SQUIZ
23 pts
JACKS

a game in which jackstones are thrown and picked up in various groups between bounces of a small rubber ball

18 pts
PYXIS

fruit of such plants as the plantain; a capsule whose upper part falls off when the seeds are released

17 pts
QUASH

put down by force or intimidation

17 pts
QURSH
17 pts
SOYUZ
17 pts
SQUAW

derogatory terms for an American Indian woman

17 pts
ZESTY

marked by spirited enjoyment

17 pts

SQUIZ dominates both Scrabble and WWF, but the scoring gap widens with J-words. JACKS scores 18 in Scrabble versus 21 in WWF, making it significantly more valuable in Words With Friends. JINKS and JUKES each hit 19 points in WWF—words worth prioritizing there over their Scrabble equivalents. When you're holding a J in WWF, these middle-S options punch well above their Scrabble weight.

Wordle

5-letter words for daily puzzles

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

THESEStarter
FIRSTStarter

the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

YEARSStarter

a prolonged period of time

THOSEStarter

Common Words (likely answers)

SORRYCommon

bad; unfortunate

THESECommon
FIRSTCommon

the fielding position of the player on a baseball team who is stationed at first of the bases in the infield (counting counterclockwise from home plate)

STILLCommon

to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons

THESE and THOSE test common vowel combinations while placing S in the diagnostic middle position. FIRST offers strong consonant coverage with F and R, making it useful when you need to eliminate common letters quickly.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

APISH

being or given to servile imitation

BOSKY

covered with or consisting of bushes or thickets

"`bosky' is a literary term"

CORSE

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

CURST

deserving a curse; sometimes used as an intensifier

BOSKY means covered with bushes or thickets—think of a shaded forest path overgrown with shrubs. It scores modestly but catches opponents off guard since few expect a valid five-letter word ending in -SKY that isn't HUSKY or DUSKY. Worth remembering for its defensive surprise value.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.

More "S" Pages

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