Words Starting With MER
100 wordsMER words carry the weight of trade, light, and water through English. From merchants and their merchandise to the mere (a pool or lake) and mercury's liquid shimmer, this prefix connects commerce, nature, and science in unexpected ways.
4-letter words
45-letter words
66-letter words
137-letter words
118-letter words
109-letter words
910-letter words
1111-letter words
1512-letter words
713-letter words
714-letter words
515-letter words
2Pattern Guide
Insights and recommendations for these words.
The MER pattern rewards players who understand its commercial and classical roots, offering both accessible everyday words and lucrative technical terms.
Vocabulary & Language
Linguistic patterns and usage statistics
MER splits into two distinct families. The Latin 'merx' (goods, trade) gives us merchant, mercenary, and merchandise—words of commerce and exchange. The Old English 'mere' (sea, lake, pool) survives in mermaid and the archaic 'mere' meaning a body of water. Mercury bridges both worlds: named for the Roman god of trade, the element got its name because it flows like liquid silver.
Total Words
113
0.0% of dictionary
Avg Length
9.3 letters
3.4 syllables
Top Scrabble
MERCHANTABILITY
27 points
Longest Word
MERETRICIOUSNESS
16 letters
Parts of Speech
With 58% nouns and 29% adjectives, MER words tend to name things and describe them rather than denote actions. The average length of 9.3 letters reflects the pattern's preference for substantial commercial and scientific terminology over simple vocabulary.
Middle English dominates this pattern, reflecting the period when Norman merchants transformed English commerce and vocabulary. Latin and Ancient Greek contributions cluster around scientific and medical terms, while Old English preserves the watery 'mere' words. The journey of MERENGUE from Spanish through French to Dutch shows how dance terms migrate with their music.
Word Games
High-value words for board games
Short (2-4)
Medium (5-7)
a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
Long (8+)
the state of being fit for market; ready to be bought or sold
Short (2-4)
common black European thrush
apart from anything else; without additions or modifications
Medium (5-7)
a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures
a word that names a part of a larger whole
Long (8+)
the state of being fit for market; ready to be bought or sold
MERCURY scores 14 in Scrabble but jumps to 16 in Words With Friends, making it even more valuable in WWF. The real prize is MERCHANTABILITY at 27 points in Scrabble and 30 in WWF—a monster word if you can build it. MERK offers efficient short-word scoring at 10 and 11 points respectively, useful for tight board situations where longer plays won't fit.
Wordle
5-letter words for daily puzzles
MERIT makes an excellent MER-starter for Wordle, testing both common vowels (E, I) and high-frequency consonants (R, T). MERSE offers an alternative that checks the versatile S and E together.
Length Extremes
Longest and shortest valid words
Longest
MER lacks any two or three-letter words, forcing players to commit at least four letters. This reflects the pattern's Latin and commerce-heavy origins—trade vocabulary rarely abbreviates.
Hidden Gems
Rare but valid words to surprise opponents
of or containing mercury
a cargo ship
properly deserved
"a merited success"
a boisterous celebration; a merry festivity
MERCHANTMAN names a cargo ship, distinct from warships in the age of sail. Beyond its nautical charm, it's a compound word that many opponents won't challenge. The -MAN suffix makes it memorable once you've seen it, and it opens lanes for common letter extensions.
Popular crossword answers
Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.