5 letter words starting with s
Welcome to the world of five-letter wonders that kick off with an "S"! This list is your playground for discovering snappy, surprising, and sometimes silly words that start with everyone's favorite squiggly letter. Dive in and see where these savvy words can take your conversations and word games!
| Word | Points | Definition | Sentence example |
|---|---|---|---|
| sorry | 8 | bad; unfortunate | a sorry state of affairs |
| still | 5 | to a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons | an even (or still) more interesting problem |
| start | 5 | get off the ground | Who started this company? |
| since | 7 | From a definite past time until now. | he went a month ago, and I have not seen him since |
| sleep | 7 | a period of time spent sleeping | he felt better after a little sleep |
| stuff | 11 | informal terms for personal possessions | - |
| speak | 11 | exchange thoughts; talk with | - |
| story | 8 | a record or narrative description of past events | a history of France |
| shall | 8 | - | - |
| stand | 6 | put up with something or somebody unpleasant | - |
| small | 7 | not large but sufficient in size or amount | helped in my own small way |
| shoot | 8 | make a film or photograph of something | shoot a movie |
| sound | 6 | (phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language | - |
| sweet | 8 | not containing or composed of salt water | - |
| sense | 5 | the meaning of a word or expression; the way in which a word or expression or situation can be interpreted | the dictionary gave several senses for the word |
| state | 5 | indicate through a symbol, formula, etc. | - |
| seven | 8 | the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one | - |
| swear | 8 | have faith or confidence in | - |
| short | 8 | of insufficient quantity to meet a need | money is short |
| smell | 7 | any property detected by the olfactory system | - |
| spend | 8 | pay out | spend money |
| smoke | 11 | a hot vapor containing fine particles of carbon being produced by combustion | the fire produced a tower of black smoke that could be seen for miles |
| smart | 7 | improperly forward or bold | - |
| stick | 11 | marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking | - |
| scene | 7 | the context and environment in which something is set | - |
| saved | 9 | guarded from injury or destruction | - |
| store | 5 | an electronic memory device | - |
| share | 8 | the effort contributed by a person in bringing about a result | they all did their share of the work |
| space | 9 | (printing) a block of type without a raised letter; used for spacing between words or sentences | - |
| smile | 7 | a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement | - |
| shoes | 8 | a particular situation | - |
| study | 9 | a branch of knowledge | anthropology is the study of human beings |
| spent | 7 | drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted | - |
| stuck | 11 | baffled | this problem has me completely stuck |
| south | 8 | the cardinal compass point that is at 180 degrees | - |
| silly | 8 | inspiring scornful pity | how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years |
| stage | 6 | plan, organize, and carry out (an event) | the neighboring tribe staged an invasion |
| steal | 5 | move stealthily | - |
| shirt | 8 | a garment worn on the upper half of the body | - |
| stole | 5 | a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women | - |
| shame | 10 | a state of dishonor | one mistake brought shame to all his family |
| screw | 10 | someone who guards prisoners | - |
| stone | 5 | United States architect (1902-1978) | - |
| spoke | 11 | one of the crosspieces that form the steps of a ladder | - |
| style | 8 | designate by an identifying term | They styled their nation `The Confederate States' |
| super | 7 | a caretaker for an apartment house; represents the owner as janitor and rent collector | - |
| speed | 8 | a rate (usually rapid) at which something happens | the project advanced with gratifying speed |
| sight | 9 | the ability to see; the visual faculty | - |
| serve | 8 | mate with | male animals serve the females for breeding purposes |
| sword | 9 | a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard | - |
| slept | 7 | - | - |
| split | 7 | having been divided; having the unity destroyed | a split group |
| scare | 7 | cause fear in | - |
| shake | 12 | move back and forth or sideways | - |
| sugar | 6 | an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals; includes simple sugars with small molecules as well as macromolecular substances; are classified according to the number of monosaccharide groups they contain | - |
| spare | 7 | not taken up by scheduled activities | spare time on my hands |
| stops | 7 | a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck); a player plays the lowest card of a suit in his hand and successively higher cards are played until the sequence stops; the player who plays a card matching one in the layout wins all the chips on that card | - |
| storm | 7 | behave violently, as if in state of a great anger | - |
| shape | 10 | the visual appearance of something or someone | - |
| scary | 10 | provoking fear terror | a scary movie |
| staff | 11 | (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written | - |
| solve | 8 | find the solution | solve an equation |
| shock | 14 | the violent interaction of individuals or groups entering into combat | the armies met in the shock of battle |
| saint | 5 | declare (a dead person) to be a saint | - |
| sucks | 11 | - | - |
| stood | 6 | - | - |
| score | 7 | a written form of a musical composition; parts for different instruments appear on separate staves on large pages | he studied the score of the sonata |
| sharp | 10 | (of something seen or heard) clearly defined | a sharp photographic image |
| steps | 7 | a flight of stairs or a flight of steps | - |
| snake | 9 | a tributary of the Columbia River that rises in Wyoming and flows westward; discovered in 1805 by the Lewis and Clark Expedition | - |
| spell | 7 | indicate or signify | I'm afraid this spells trouble! |
| shout | 8 | utter a sudden loud cry | - |
| shift | 11 | lay aside, abandon, or leave for another | - |
| swing | 9 | in baseball; a batter's attempt to hit a pitched ball | - |
| stock | 11 | the handle of a handgun or the butt end of a rifle or shotgun or part of the support of a machine gun or artillery gun | the rifle had been fitted with a special stock |
| stays | 8 | a woman's close-fitting foundation garment | - |
| steel | 5 | get ready for something difficult or unpleasant | - |
| shine | 8 | be bright by reflecting or casting light | - |
| spain | 7 | a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power | - |
| slave | 8 | work very hard, like a slave | - |
| sweat | 8 | excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin | Exercise makes one sweat |
| shark | 12 | any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales | - |
| shore | 8 | arrive on shore | - |
| sheep | 10 | a docile and vulnerable person who would rather follow than make an independent decision | his students followed him like sheep |
| shown | 11 | - | - |
| solid | 6 | the state in which a substance has no tendency to flow under moderate stress; resists forces (such as compression) that tend to deform it; and retains a definite size and shape | - |
| smith | 10 | Scottish economist who advocated private enterprise and free trade (1723-1790) | - |
| sauce | 7 | add zest or flavor to, make more interesting | sauce the roast |
| sport | 7 | someone who engages in sports | - |
| seats | 5 | an area that includes places where several people can sit | - |
| strip | 7 | lay bare | - |
| squad | 15 | a cooperative unit (especially in sports) | - |
| sunny | 8 | bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer | a gay sunny room |
| sally | 8 | a venture off the beaten path | a sally into the wide world beyond his home |
| sales | 5 | income (at invoice values) received for goods and services over some given period of time | - |
| salad | 6 | food mixtures either arranged on a plate or tossed and served with a moist dressing; usually consisting of or including greens | - |
| sandy | 9 | of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown | - |
| skull | 9 | the bony skeleton of the head of vertebrates | - |
| stink | 9 | smell badly and offensively | - |
| scale | 7 | a thin flake of dead epidermis shed from the surface of the skin | - |
| stake | 9 | mark with a stake | stake out the path |
| slide | 6 | move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner | - |
| shell | 8 | remove the husks from | - |
| stare | 5 | look at with fixed eyes | The students stared at the teacher with amazement |
| skirt | 9 | avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues) | she skirted the problem |
| sammy | 12 | - | - |
| sixth | 15 | coming next after the fifth and just before the seventh in position | - |
| spoil | 7 | make a mess of, destroy or ruin | - |
| shave | 11 | cut closely | - |
| sneak | 9 | someone who prowls or sneaks about; usually with unlawful intentions | - |
| solar | 5 | relating to or derived from the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun | solar eclipse |
| sonny | 8 | a male child (a familiar term of address to a boy) | - |
| smash | 10 | hit hard | He smashed a 3-run homer |
| steak | 9 | a slice of meat cut from the fleshy part of an animal or large fish | - |
| skill | 9 | an ability that has been acquired by training | - |
| siren | 5 | a woman who is considered to be dangerously seductive | - |
| sheet | 8 | paper used for writing or printing | - |
| shove | 11 | come into rough contact with while moving | - |
| stiff | 11 | very drunk | - |
| spray | 10 | a dispenser that turns a liquid (such as perfume) into a fine mist | - |
| scout | 7 | a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event | - |
| snack | 11 | eat a snack; eat lightly | She never loses weight because she snacks between meals |
| sperm | 9 | the male reproductive cell; the male gamete | a sperm is mostly a nucleus surrounded by little other cellular material |
| sober | 7 | become sober after excessive alcohol consumption | Keep him in bed until he sobers up |
| slice | 7 | cut into slices | - |
| scent | 7 | any property detected by the olfactory system | - |
| sixty | 15 | being ten more than fifty | - |
| spots | 7 | spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens | - |
| sarge | 6 | - | - |
| suite | 5 | apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel) | - |
| sweep | 10 | move with sweeping, effortless, gliding motions | - |
| spoon | 7 | as much as a spoon will hold | he added two spoons of sugar |
| steam | 7 | clean by means of steaming | steam-clean the upholstered sofa |
| swore | 8 | - | - |
| smack | 13 | deliver a hard blow to | The teacher smacked the student who had misbehaved |
| swamp | 12 | low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog | - |
| stunt | 5 | a creature (especially a whale) that has been prevented from attaining full growth | - |
| spite | 7 | malevolence by virtue of being malicious or spiteful or nasty | - |
| shiny | 11 | having a shiny surface or coating | - |
| spill | 7 | flow, run or fall out and become lost | The milk spilled across the floor |
| stamp | 9 | walk heavily | - |
| spicy | 12 | producing a burning sensation on the taste nerves | a spicy sauce |
| salon | 5 | a shop where hairdressers and beauticians work | - |
| scarf | 10 | a joint made by notching the ends of two pieces of timber or metal so that they will lock together end-to-end | - |
| swell | 8 | expand abnormally | The bellies of the starving children are swelling |
| sworn | 8 | bound by or as if by an oath | according to an early tradition became his sworn brother |
| shade | 9 | a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color | after several trials he mixed the shade of pink that she wanted |
| sushi | 8 | rice (with raw fish) wrapped in seaweed | - |
| seize | 14 | take possession of by force, as after an invasion | the invaders seized the land and property of the inhabitants |
| shelf | 11 | a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water | - |
| sting | 6 | a painful wound caused by the thrust of an insect's stinger into skin | - |
| stove | 8 | a kitchen appliance used for cooking food | dinner was already on the stove |
| straw | 8 | spread by scattering ( | - |
| stain | 5 | an act that brings discredit to the person who does it | - |
| stall | 5 | postpone doing what one should be doing | - |
| shaft | 11 | an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect | she threw shafts of sarcasm |
| spike | 11 | a very high narrow heel on women's shoes | - |
| spark | 11 | merriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance | he had a sparkle in his eye |
| swiss | 8 | the natives or inhabitants of Switzerland | - |
| sissy | 8 | a timid man or boy considered childish or unassertive | - |
| skate | 9 | large edible rays having a long snout and thick tail with pectoral fins continuous with the head; swim by undulating the edges of the pectoral fins | - |
| spine | 7 | a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf | - |
| sadly | 9 | in an unfortunate or deplorable manner | he was sadly neglected |
| shawn | 11 | United States dancer and choreographer who collaborated with Ruth Saint Denis (1891-1972) | - |
| shook | 12 | a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment | - |
| spear | 7 | an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish | - |
| stray | 8 | move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment | - |
| squid | 15 | (Italian cuisine) squid prepared as food | - |
| stack | 11 | a large tall chimney through which combustion gases and smoke can be evacuated | - |
| salty | 8 | engagingly stimulating or provocative | salty language |
| sheer | 8 | not mixed with extraneous elements | sheer wine |
| spice | 9 | make more interesting or flavorful | - |
| sauna | 5 | a Finnish steam bath; steam is produced by pouring water over heated rocks | - |
| slack | 11 | a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot | - |
| strap | 7 | a band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag | - |
| swine | 8 | stout-bodied short-legged omnivorous animals | - |
| scrap | 9 | worthless material that is to be disposed of | - |
| shiva | 11 | (Judaism) a period of seven days of mourning after the death of close relative | the family is sitting shiva |
| stark | 9 | without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers | stark staring mad |
| setup | 7 | equipment designed to serve a specific function | - |
| scoop | 9 | street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate | - |
| sewer | 8 | a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water | - |
| sniff | 11 | sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose | - |
| swept | 10 | possessing sweep | the sleek swept wings of the plane |
| scram | 9 | leave immediately; used usually in the imperative form | - |
| scold | 8 | someone (especially a woman) who annoys people by constantly finding fault | - |
| scrub | 9 | dense vegetation consisting of stunted trees or bushes | - |
| samba | 9 | large west African tree having large palmately lobed leaves and axillary cymose panicles of small white flowers and one-winged seeds; yields soft white to pale yellow wood | - |
| stash | 8 | save up as for future use | - |
| syrup | 10 | a thick sweet sticky liquid | - |
| serge | 6 | a twilled woolen fabric | - |
| slash | 8 | beat severely with a whip or rod | - |
| slick | 11 | having only superficial plausibility | a slick commercial |
| shack | 14 | small crude shelter used as a dwelling | - |
| steer | 5 | castrated bull | - |
| stern | 5 | of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect | a stern face |
| sized | 15 | having a specified size | - |
| squat | 14 | having a low center of gravity; built low to the ground | - |
| stool | 5 | have a bowel movement | - |
| shalt | 8 | - | - |
| semen | 7 | the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract | - |
| salsa | 5 | spicy sauce of tomatoes and onions and chili peppers to accompany Mexican foods | - |
| scope | 9 | electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities | - |
| shady | 12 | not as expected | a shady deal |
| snuck | 11 | - | - |
| swift | 11 | moving very fast | a swift current |
| serum | 7 | an amber, watery fluid, rich in proteins, that separates out when blood coagulates | - |
| steep | 7 | greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation | - |
| shite | 8 | obscene terms for feces | - |
| slate | 5 | thin layers of rock used for roofing | - |
| suing | 6 | - | - |
| senor | 5 | a Spanish title or form of address for a man; similar to the English `Mr' or `sir' | - |
| slope | 7 | the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the horizontal | - |
| skunk | 13 | American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily Mephitinae | - |
| slimy | 10 | morally reprehensible | a slimy little liar |
| sahib | 10 | formerly a term of respect for important white Europeans in colonial India; used after the name | - |
| shush | 11 | silence (someone) by uttering `shush!' | - |
| sonar | 5 | a measuring instrument that sends out an acoustic pulse in water and measures distances in terms of the time for the echo of the pulse to return | sonar is an acronym for sound navigation ranging |
| snail | 5 | edible terrestrial snail usually served in the shell with a sauce of melted butter and garlic | - |
| siege | 6 | the action of an armed force that surrounds a fortified place and isolates it while continuing to attack | - |
| shred | 9 | a tiny or scarcely detectable amount | - |
| specs | 9 | (plural) optical instrument consisting of a frame that holds a pair of lenses for correcting defective vision | - |
| scoot | 7 | run or move very quickly or hastily | - |
| spank | 11 | give a spanking to; subject to a spanking | - |
| slain | 5 | killed; `slain' is formal or literary as in | slain warriors |
| stale | 5 | lacking originality or spontaneity; no longer new | stale news |
| stein | 5 | a mug intended for serving beer | - |
| shaky | 15 | not secure; beset with difficulties | a shaky marriage |
| stung | 6 | aroused to impatience or anger | - |
| surge | 6 | rise rapidly | - |
| sands | 6 | the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean | - |
| spade | 8 | a playing card in the major suit that has one or more black figures on it | she led a low spade |
| skank | 13 | any substance considered disgustingly foul or unpleasant | - |
| sided | 7 | - | - |
| sully | 8 | United States painter (born in England) of portraits and historical scenes (1783-1872) | - |
| snoop | 7 | a spy who makes uninvited inquiries into the private affairs of others | - |
| snore | 5 | the act of snoring or producing a snoring sound | - |
| swami | 10 | a Hindu religious teacher; used as a title of respect | - |
| stomp | 9 | walk heavily | The men stomped through the snow in their heavy boots |
| smear | 7 | an act that brings discredit to the person who does it | - |
| slime | 7 | any thick, viscous matter | - |
| stalk | 9 | material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds | - |
| starr | 5 | rock star and drummer for the Beatles (born in 1940) | - |
| scalp | 9 | remove the scalp of | The enemies were scalped |
| silva | 8 | the forest trees growing in a country or region | - |
| sling | 6 | hurl as if with a sling | - |
| sonic | 7 | (of speed) having or caused by speed approximately equal to that of sound in air at sea level | a sonic boom |
| swung | 9 | - | - |
| steed | 6 | (literary) a spirited horse for state of war | - |
| stump | 9 | the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled | - |
| stank | 9 | - | - |
| spree | 7 | a brief indulgence of your impulses | - |
| snuff | 11 | sensing an odor by inhaling through the nose | - |
| stoop | 7 | basin for holy water | - |
| snort | 5 | inhale recreational drugs | The addict was snorting cocaine almost every day |
| slang | 6 | fool or hoax | - |
| spook | 11 | a mental representation of some haunting experience | - |
| sloan | 5 | - | - |
| smelt | 7 | extract (metals) by heating | - |
| speck | 13 | (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything | - |
| shone | 8 | - | - |
| scuba | 9 | a device (trade name Aqua-Lung) that lets divers breathe under water; scuba is an acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus | - |
| sever | 8 | cut off from a whole | His head was severed from his body |
| sewed | 9 | fastened with stitches | - |
| snout | 5 | beaklike projection of the anterior part of the head of certain insects such as e.g. weevils | - |
| swarm | 10 | a group of many things in the air or on the ground | a swarm of insects obscured the light |
| swipe | 10 | make off with belongings of others | - |
| saber | 7 | cut or injure with a saber | - |
| sassy | 8 | improperly forward or bold | - |
| sodom | 8 | any location known for vice and corruption | - |
| saheb | 10 | - | - |
| satin | 5 | a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back | - |
| sayid | 9 | - | - |
| shawl | 11 | cloak consisting of an oblong piece of cloth used to cover the head and shoulders | - |
| scorn | 7 | look down on with disdain | The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately |
| strut | 5 | a proud stiff pompous gait | - |
| spilt | 7 | - | - |
| salts | 5 | - | - |
| spawn | 10 | call forth | - |
| sakai | 9 | - | - |
| snowy | 11 | of the white color of snow | - |
| silky | 12 | having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light | silky skin |
| swede | 9 | the large yellow root of a rutabaga plant used as food | - |
| slump | 9 | fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly | - |
| stair | 5 | support consisting of a place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway | - |
| sutra | 5 | a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature or a group of aphoristic doctrinal summaries prepared for memorization | - |
| swoop | 10 | (music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale | the violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides |
| savor | 8 | derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in | - |
| stork | 9 | large mostly Old World wading birds typically having white-and-black plumage | - |
| spunk | 11 | the courage to carry on | he kept fighting on pure spunk |
| snare | 5 | catch in or as if in a trap | - |
| sybil | 10 | - | - |
| sedan | 6 | a car that is closed and that has front and rear seats and two or four doors | - |
| stoke | 9 | stir up or tend; of a fire | - |
| smoky | 14 | marked by or emitting or filled with smoke | smoky rafters |
| saver | 8 | someone who saves something from danger or violence | - |
| sheik | 12 | a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance | - |
| seine | 5 | a French river that flows through the heart of Paris and then northward into the English Channel | - |
| slush | 8 | make a splashing sound | - |
| shire | 8 | British breed of large heavy draft horse | - |
| stead | 6 | the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another | can you go in my stead? |
| savvy | 14 | get the meaning of something | - |
| soggy | 10 | slow and apathetic | - |
| slant | 5 | a biased way of looking at or presenting something | - |
| spout | 7 | talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner | - |
| sarin | 5 | a highly toxic chemical nerve agent that inhibits the activity of cholinesterase | - |
| sable | 7 | a very dark black | - |
| synth | 11 | - | - |
| serra | 5 | Spanish missionary who founded Franciscan missions in California (1713-1784) | - |
| sloth | 8 | apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue (personified as one of the deadly sins) | - |
| stout | 5 | having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships | stout seamen |
| slade | 6 | - | - |
| swoon | 8 | pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain | - |
| skier | 9 | someone who skis | - |
| smite | 7 | cause physical pain or suffering in | - |
| suave | 8 | having a sophisticated charm | - |
| splat | 7 | a single splash | he heard a splat as it hit the floor |
| spasm | 9 | a painful and involuntary muscular contraction | - |
| surly | 8 | inclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace | a surly waiter |
| seder | 6 | (Judaism) the ceremonial dinner on the first night (or both nights) of Passover | - |
| salvo | 8 | rapid simultaneous discharge of firearms | - |
| sheen | 8 | the visual property of something that shines with reflected light | - |
| swirl | 8 | flow in a circular current, of liquids | - |
| swish | 11 | elegant and fashionable | a swish pastry shop on the Rue du Bac |
| scots | 7 | the dialect of English used in Scotland | - |
| stunk | 9 | - | - |
| scull | 7 | a long oar that is mounted at the stern of a boat and moved left and right to propel the boat forward | - |
| shank | 12 | cylinder forming a long narrow part of something | - |
| senna | 5 | any of various plants of the genus Senna having pinnately compound leaves and showy usually yellow flowers; many are used medicinally | - |
| saree | 5 | a dress worn primarily by Hindu women; consists of several yards of light material that is draped around the body | - |
| saucy | 10 | improperly forward or bold | - |
| swill | 8 | wet feed (especially for pigs) consisting of mostly kitchen waste mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk | - |
| seedy | 9 | somewhat ill or prone to illness | - |
| sappy | 12 | effusively or insincerely emotional | - |
| smirk | 11 | smile affectedly or derisively | - |
| suede | 6 | leather with a napped surface | - |
| savoy | 11 | head of soft crinkly leaves | - |
| shrew | 11 | a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman | - |
| sleek | 9 | designed or arranged to offer the least resistant to fluid flow | - |
| spurt | 7 | the occurrence of a sudden discharge (as of liquid) | - |
| sinus | 5 | a wide channel containing blood; does not have the coating of an ordinary blood vessel | - |
| sitar | 5 | a stringed instrument of India; has a long neck and movable frets; has 6 or 7 metal strings for playing and usually 13 resonating strings | - |
| soapy | 10 | unpleasantly and excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech | soapy compliments |
| scour | 7 | rub hard or scrub | scour the counter tops |
| salve | 8 | semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation | - |
| scamp | 11 | one who is playfully mischievous | - |
| shoal | 8 | a large group of fish | - |
| snipe | 7 | aim and shoot with great precision | - |
| sowed | 9 | - | - |
| smock | 13 | a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles | - |
| sambo | 9 | - | - |
| skeet | 9 | the sport of shooting at clay pigeons that are hurled upward in such a way as to simulate the flight of a bird | - |
| stint | 5 | supply sparingly and with restricted quantities | stint with the allowance |
| spiky | 14 | having or as if having especially high-pitched spots | - |
| sigma | 8 | the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet | - |
| shear | 8 | shear the wool from | shear sheep |
| squaw | 17 | derogatory terms for an American Indian woman | - |
| sadhu | 9 | (Hinduism) an ascetic holy man | - |
| saran | 5 | any of various thermoplastic resins used to make things | - |
| skint | 9 | lacking funds | `skint' is a British slang term |
| spelt | 7 | hardy wheat grown mostly in Europe for livestock feed | - |
| scaly | 10 | rough to the touch; covered with scales or scurf | - |
| sieve | 8 | a strainer for separating lumps from powdered material or grading particles | - |
| shrug | 9 | a gesture involving the shoulders | - |
| sneer | 5 | a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls | - |
| shirk | 12 | avoid (one's assigned duties) | The derelict soldier shirked his duties |
| solon | 5 | a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs | - |
| sucre | 7 | the basic unit of money in Ecuador; equal to 100 centavos | - |
| spans | 7 | - | - |
| swain | 8 | a man who is the lover of a man or woman | - |
| sidle | 6 | move sideways | - |
| shogi | 9 | a form of chess played on a board of 81 squares; each player has 20 pieces | - |
| stony | 8 | hard as granite | - |
| sunup | 7 | the first light of day | - |
| shoji | 15 | a translucent screen made of a wooden frame covered with rice paper | - |
| sitka | 9 | a town in southeastern Alaska that was the capital of Russian America and served as the capital of Alaska from 1867 until 1906 | - |
| skiff | 15 | any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor | - |
| strum | 7 | sound the strings of (a stringed instrument) | strum a guitar |
| spick | 13 | (ethnic slur) offensive term for persons of Latin American descent | - |
| semis | 7 | - | - |
| skied | 10 | - | - |
| stoic | 7 | seeming unaffected by pleasure or pain; impassive | stoic courage |
| shard | 9 | a broken piece of a brittle artifact | - |
| speer | 7 | German Nazi architect who worked for Hitler (1905-1981) | - |
| scant | 7 | supply sparingly and with restricted quantities | - |
| scape | 9 | erect leafless flower stalk growing directly from the ground as in a tulip | - |
| scone | 7 | small biscuit (rich with cream and eggs) cut into diamonds or sticks and baked in an oven or (especially originally) on a griddle | - |
| sixer | 12 | the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one | - |
| simba | 9 | - | - |
| silks | 9 | the brightly colored garments of a jockey; emblematic of the stable | - |
| showy | 14 | (used especially of clothes) marked by conspicuous display | - |
| softy | 11 | a person who is weak and excessively sentimental | - |
| sooty | 8 | of the blackest black; similar to the color of jet or coal | - |
| sophy | 13 | - | - |
| spiel | 7 | replay (as a melody) | - |
| sulky | 12 | depressingly dark | - |
| savin | 8 | procumbent or spreading juniper | - |
| spurn | 7 | reject with contempt | She spurned his advances |
| scowl | 10 | a facial expression of dislike or displeasure | - |
| spitz | 16 | any of various stocky heavy-coated breeds of dogs native to northern regions having pointed muzzles and erect ears with a curled furry tail | - |
| stave | 8 | (music) the system of five horizontal lines on which the musical notes are written | - |
| scoff | 13 | treat with contemptuous disregard | - |
| slurp | 7 | eat noisily | He slurped his soup |
| sleet | 5 | partially melted snow (or a mixture of rain and snow) | - |
| scuff | 13 | walk without lifting the feet | - |
| siree | 5 | - | - |
| spoof | 10 | make a parody of | The students spoofed the teachers |
| spore | 7 | a small usually single-celled asexual reproductive body produced by many nonflowering plants and fungi and some bacteria and protozoans and that are capable of developing into a new individual without sexual fusion | a sexual spore is formed after the fusion of gametes |
| saiga | 6 | goat-like antelope of central Eurasia having a stubby nose like a proboscis | - |
| skimp | 13 | supply sparingly and with restricted quantities | - |
| snarl | 5 | twist together or entwine into a confusing mass | - |
| shunt | 8 | a conductor having low resistance in parallel with another device to divert a fraction of the current | - |
| shyly | 14 | in a shy or timid or bashful manner | he smiled shyly |
| soppy | 12 | wet through and through; thoroughly wet | soppy clothes |
| snide | 6 | expressive of contempt | makes many a sharp comparison but never a mean or snide one |
| sabre | 7 | cut or injure with a saber | - |
| shrub | 10 | a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems | - |
| spire | 7 | a tall tower that forms the superstructure of a building (usually a church or temple) and that tapers to a point at the top | - |
| squib | 16 | firework consisting of a tube filled with powder (as a broken firecracker) that burns with a fizzing noise | - |
| shuck | 14 | material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds | - |
| solus | 5 | - | - |
| slink | 9 | walk stealthily | I saw a cougar slinking toward its prey |
| smote | 7 | - | - |
| squab | 16 | short and fat | - |
| skulk | 13 | avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill | - |
| slops | 7 | wet feed (especially for pigs) consisting of mostly kitchen waste mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk | - |
| slung | 6 | - | - |
| steen | 5 | Dutch genre painter (1626-1679) | - |
| spiny | 10 | having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc. | - |
| spool | 7 | a winder around which thread or tape or film or other flexible materials can be wound | - |
| sprat | 7 | small herring processed like a sardine | - |
| swank | 12 | imposingly fashionable and elegant | a swank apartment |
| sylva | 11 | the forest trees growing in a country or region | - |
| segue | 6 | proceed without interruption; in music or talk | He segued into another discourse |
| sated | 6 | - | - |
| saute | 5 | fried quickly in a little fat | - |
| satyr | 8 | one of a class of woodland deities; attendant on Bacchus; identified with Roman fauns | - |
| scald | 8 | subject to harsh criticism | - |
| sinew | 8 | possessing muscular strength | - |
| skoal | 9 | - | - |
| slyly | 11 | in an artful manner | - |
| snell | 5 | - | - |
| strep | 7 | spherical Gram-positive bacteria occurring in pairs or chains; cause e.g. scarlet fever and tonsillitis | - |
| scrip | 9 | a certificate whose value is recognized by the payer and payee; scrip is not currency but may be convertible into currency | - |
| servo | 8 | control system that converts a small mechanical motion into one requiring much greater power; may include a negative feedback system | - |
| singe | 6 | become superficially burned | my eyebrows singed when I bent over the flames |
| sexed | 13 | characterized by sexuality | highly sexed |
| souse | 5 | a person who drinks alcohol to excess habitually | - |
| spate | 7 | the occurrence of a water flow resulting from sudden rain or melting snow | - |
| sprit | 7 | a light spar that crosses a fore-and-aft sail diagonally | - |
| surat | 5 | - | - |
| scrum | 9 | (rugby) the method of beginning play in which the forwards of each team crouch side by side with locked arms; play starts when the ball is thrown in between them and the two sides compete for possession | - |
| sepia | 7 | type genus of the Sepiidae | - |
| scads | 8 | a large number or amount | - |
| shied | 9 | - | - |
| sower | 8 | someone who sows | - |
| sloop | 7 | a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow | - |
| supra | 7 | (in writing) at an earlier place | - |
| seely | 8 | - | - |
| sedge | 7 | grasslike or rushlike plant growing in wet places having solid stems, narrow grasslike leaves and spikelets of inconspicuous flowers | - |
| shorn | 8 | having the hair or wool cut or clipped off as if with shears or clippers | picked up the baby's shorn curls from the floor |
| snook | 9 | large tropical American food and game fishes of coastal and brackish waters; resemble pike | - |
| swath | 11 | a path or strip (as cut by one course of mowing) | - |
| summa | 9 | - | - |
| satay | 8 | - | - |
| shill | 8 | act as a shill | This man shilled and bid for an expensive carpet during the auction in order to drive the price up |
| sheva | 11 | - | - |
| shale | 8 | a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition of successive layers of clay | - |
| sorel | 5 | - | - |
| slake | 9 | satisfy (thirst) | - |
| snips | 7 | (plural) hand shears for cutting sheet metal | - |
| sabra | 7 | a native-born Israeli | - |
| sepoy | 10 | - | - |
| saner | 5 | - | - |
| saith | 8 | - | - |
| salto | 5 | - | - |
| sited | 6 | - | - |
| swamy | 13 | - | - |
| surer | 5 | - | - |
| sabot | 7 | a shoe carved from a single block of wood | - |
| scree | 7 | a sloping mass of loose rocks at the base of a cliff | - |
| salmi | 7 | ragout of game in a rich sauce | - |
| skive | 12 | remove the surface of | skive leather |
| sibyl | 10 | (ancient Rome) a woman who was regarded as an oracle or prophet | - |
| soled | 6 | having a sole or soles especially as specified; used in combination | half-soled |
| spake | 11 | - | - |
| soupy | 10 | effusively or insincerely emotional | - |
| strew | 8 | spread by scattering ( | strew toys all over the carpet |
| strop | 7 | a leather strap used to sharpen razors | - |
| spork | 11 | trademark for a plastic eating utensil that has both tines and a bowl like a spoon | - |
| slosh | 8 | walk through mud or mire | - |
| snaky | 12 | resembling a serpent in form | snaky ridges in the sand |
| stipe | 7 | supporting stalk or stem-like structure especially of a pistil or fern frond or supporting a mushroom cap | - |
| staid | 6 | characterized by dignity and propriety | - |
| scrag | 8 | wring the neck of | - |
| senti | 5 | - | - |
| sayer | 8 | - | - |
| sheaf | 11 | a package of several things tied together for carrying or storing | - |
| sooth | 8 | truth or reality | in sooth |
| snead | 6 | United States golfer known for the graceful arc of his swing (1912-2002) | - |
There’s something undeniably captivating about words, especially when you zero in on a specific category like five-letter words starting with 'S'. These words often glide off the tongue, possessing a rhythmic elegance that makes them a joy to pronounce and use. Whether it’s the sibilant sound of 's' or the curious combinations that follow, these words have a special place in the English language. In this delightful dive, we’ll explore some intriguing examples, from everyday words to those that earn you bragging rights in Scrabble.
About 5-letter words starting with S
The letter 'S' is one of the most commonly used letters in the English alphabet, and it's no surprise that it leads to a plethora of five-letter wonders. As a starting letter, 'S' can soften or sharpen the sound of words, depending on what follows. It has a certain versatility, whether starting a word with a whispering 'sh' or the crispness of a 'st'. Consider words like "sheep" or "stone," where the 'S' sets the stage for the rest of the phonetic journey.
Positioned at the forefront, 'S' can transform a simple word into something extraordinary. Its frequent pairing with vowels and consonants alike creates a symphony of sounds. For example, in the word "smile," the 'S' initiates a seamless flow, while in "swift," it adds a sense of urgency and speed. This dynamic role not only influences pronunciation but also imbues each word with its unique flavor and meaning.
Popular word examples
Five-letter words starting with 'S' are as popular as they are plentiful. Below are ten such words that showcase their diverse applications and charm.
Super
- Definition: Extremely good or excellent.
- Example in a Sentence: "She had a super time at the theme park."
- Fun Fact: The term "super" first gained popularity in the early 20th century as a slang term for anything extraordinary.
Share
- Definition: To give a portion of something to others.
- Example in a Sentence: "He decided to share his umbrella with a stranger."
- Fun Fact: Originally from the Old English "scearu," which refers to a division or allotment.
Sword
- Definition: A weapon with a long metal blade and hilt.
- Example in a Sentence: "The knight drew his sword bravely."
- Fun Fact: Swords were not just weapons; they held cultural significance across many ancient civilizations.
Sense
- Definition: A faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus.
- Example in a Sentence: "Her sense of smell was particularly keen."
- Fun Fact: The word "sense" is derived from Latin "sensus," meaning feeling or perception.
Stone
- Definition: A small piece of rock.
- Example in a Sentence: "He skipped a stone across the water."
- Fun Fact: Stones have been used throughout history for tools, construction, and art.
Shine
- Definition: To emit light or glow.
- Example in a Sentence: "The sun began to shine through the clouds."
- Fun Fact: The concept of shining has been metaphorically used to describe excellence or prominence.
Sugar
- Definition: A sweet crystalline substance obtained from various plants.
- Example in a Sentence: "She added a spoonful of sugar to her coffee."
- Fun Fact: The word "sugar" comes from the Arabic "sukkar," reflecting the historical trade routes.
Sweet
- Definition: Having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey.
- Example in a Sentence: "The dessert was incredibly sweet."
- Fun Fact: Sweetness is one of the five basic tastes detected by the human tongue.
Space
- Definition: A continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied.
- Example in a Sentence: "They needed more space in their apartment."
- Fun Fact: "Space" also refers to the vast universe beyond Earth, making it a word with dual contexts.
Smell
- Definition: To perceive or detect the odor or scent of something.
- Example in a Sentence: "The flowers had a lovely smell."
- Fun Fact: Smell is closely linked to memory and emotion, more so than any other sense.
High-scoring scrabble examples
For those looking to up their Scrabble game, these high-scoring words are not just useful but can turn the tide in your favor.
| Word | Scrabble Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Squid | 15 | A sea animal with a long body and tentacles. |
| Sphinx | 18 | A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. |
| Swamp | 12 | A wetland area that is forested. |
| Squat | 14 | To crouch or sit with knees bent. |
| Snipe | 7 | To shoot at someone from a hiding place. |
| Swoop | 10 | To move rapidly downward through the air. |
Popular 5-letter words for Wordle
Wordle fans appreciate strategic word choices. Here are some stellar options to consider for your next game.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Shale | A fine-grained sedimentary rock. |
| Slate | A type of metamorphic rock used for roofing and flooring. |
| Shear | To cut the wool off a sheep. |
| Shore | The land along the edge of a sea or lake. |
| Shout | To utter a loud call or cry. |
| Sneak | To move quietly and cautiously. |
Unusual and rare word examples
For those with a penchant for the peculiar, these rare words will certainly pique your interest.
Sward
- Definition: An expanse of short grass.
- Interesting Fact: "Sward" comes from Old English "sweard," relating to grass or turf.
- Example in a Sentence: "The deer grazed peacefully on the sward."
Sinew
- Definition: A piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone.
- Interesting Fact: Historically, sinew was used as a material in bowstrings and threads.
- Example in a Sentence: "The hunter admired the sinew of the beast."
Smirk
- Definition: A smug or conceited smile.
- Interesting Fact: The word "smirk" has Germanic roots, related to the act of smiling.
- Example in a Sentence: "He gave a smirk that suggested he knew something we didn’t."
Spurn
- Definition: To reject with disdain or contempt.
- Interesting Fact: "Spurn" has been used since Middle English, maintaining its meaning over centuries.
- Example in a Sentence: "She decided to spurn the offer and wait for a better one."
Staid
- Definition: Sedate, respectable, and unadventurous.
- Interesting Fact: Originally, "staid" was the past participle of the verb "stay."
- Example in a Sentence: "His staid demeanor was reassuring during the crisis."
Final words
Exploring the world of five-letter words starting with 'S' offers a fun glimpse into language's creativity and flexibility. From common favorites to rare finds, these words enrich our vocabulary and challenge our linguistic skills. Whether for casual conversation or competitive games, they bring a touch of intrigue and excitement to the art of communication.
