Words Starting With FL
100 wordsFL- words capture movement and instability in English. From the quick snap of FLEX to the gentle drift of FLOAT, this combination often signals something in motion or transition. Here you'll find practical game-winners alongside vocabulary that illuminates how English describes the physical world.
3-letter words
24-letter words
135-letter words
376-letter words
127-letter words
148-letter words
159-letter words
210-letter words
311-letter words
2Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The FL- cluster rewards players who understand both its high-value gems and its strategic versatility.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
FL- frequently appears in words describing light, quick movements—FLICK, FLIT, FLUTTER, FLAP. Linguists call this sound symbolism: the breathy F combined with liquid L suggests something swift and insubstantial. This pattern extends to words about instability (FLIMSY, FLUCTUATE) and surfaces (FLAT, FLOOR). The combination also appears in words borrowed from Latin's 'flare' (to blow) and related roots.
Total Words
763
0.3% of dictionary
Avg Length
8.3 letters
2.5 syllables
Top Scrabble
FLEXOGRAPHIC
30 points
Longest Word
FLUOROSCOPICALLY
16 letters
Parts of Speech
With 66% nouns dominating this pattern, FL- words name things more than describe actions. The 22% adjective presence is notable—words like FLIMSY, FLUFFY, and FLAT show how this sound cluster gravitates toward describing qualities. At 2.5 syllables per word on average, these tend toward the compact and punchy.
Middle English dominates FL- words, reflecting how deeply embedded these terms are in everyday English. Latin and French contributions often came through scientific and technical vocabulary—think FLUORESCENT and its chemical relatives. The Old English layer preserves the most fundamental terms: FLIGHT traces back through Proto-Germanic, carrying the same meaning for over a thousand years.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
Long (8+)
tranquilizer used to treat psychotic disorders
Short (2-4)
Long (8+)
a female fool
tranquilizer used to treat psychotic disorders
FLUMMOX stands out in both games—21 points in Scrabble, 25 in WWF—making it a versatile powerhouse when you draw that X. The technical terms offer endgame potential: FLEXOGRAPHIC scores 30 in Scrabble but climbs to 33 in WWF. For shorter plays, FLUX edges out FLEX in both games thanks to the X-U combination, though WWF's higher X value makes the difference more pronounced at 16 versus 14 points.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
Good Starters (E, A, R, S, T)
erupt or intensify suddenly
footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)
Common Words (likely answers)
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
alternative names for the body of a human being
a lamp for providing momentary light to take a photograph
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
FLARE covers three vowels (A, E) plus common consonants L and R, making it an excellent second guess after eliminating more frequent letters. FLATS offers similar value with the high-frequency S and T, useful for narrowing down common word endings.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
Shortest
The shortest FL- words (FLU, FLY) are pure Old English survivors—basic vocabulary that needed no elaboration. The longest, like FLUOROSCOPICALLY, stack Latin roots with Greek-derived suffixes, showing how technical language builds complexity through layered borrowings.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
whip
"The religious fanatics flagellated themselves"
food fish of the Indonesian region of the Pacific; resembles gurnards
act of bending a joint; especially a joint between the bones of a limb so that the angle between them is decreased
in a flippant manner
"he answered the reporters' questions flippantly"
FLIPPANTLY means to do something in a dismissive, frivolous manner. This adverb flies under the radar but delivers solid value with its double P and Y ending. It's the kind of word that sounds too conversational to be valid—until you play it.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.