5-Letter Words Starting With U

100 words

Five-letter U words present a unique challenge. The letter U often plays a supporting role, pairing with Q or softening consonants, but here it takes the lead. This collection ranges from everyday terms to strategic gems that can transform a game board.

Pattern Guide

Word recommendations for board games.

Word Games

High-value words for board games

Top 5-Letter Words

UNZIP

open the zipper of

16 pts
UNFIX
15 pts
UNBOX

remove from a box

14 pts
UNJAM
14 pts
UNMIX
14 pts
UMMAH

the Muslim community or people, considered to extend from Mauritania to Pakistan

12 pts
UNSEX

make infertile

12 pts
UMIAK
11 pts

The UN- prefix creates exceptional scoring opportunities with high-value tiles. UNJAM scores 19 points in Words With Friends compared to 14 in Scrabble, thanks to WWF's boosted J value. UNZIP and UNFIX follow similar patterns, making these prefix plays more rewarding in WWF. UMMAH and UMIAK offer solid alternatives when those premium tiles aren't available.

Wordle

5-letter words for daily puzzles

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

UPSETStarter

having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

UTTERStarter

without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers

ULTRAStarter

(used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm

USHERStarter

someone employed to conduct others

Common Words (likely answers)

UNTILCommon

As far as; to the place or degree that; especially, up to the time that; till.

UNDERCommon

further down

UNCLECommon

a source of help and advice and encouragement

USINGCommon

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

UPSET delivers strong vowel coverage with U and E while testing common consonants S, P, and T. ULTRA works similarly, checking the frequently-used L, T, and R.

Hidden Gems

Rare but valid words to surprise opponents

UMBRA

a region of complete shadow resulting from total obstruction of light

UNPIN

remove the pins from; unfasten the pins of

UNFED

not fed

"a grudge that remained unfed"

UNLIT

not set afire or burning

"held an unlit cigarette"

UMBRA refers to the region of complete shadow during an eclipse, where light is totally blocked. It's valid in both Scrabble and WWF, and the MB combination scores decently while feeling more poetic than most five-letter plays. Worth keeping in your mental toolkit for its unusual letter pattern.

Popular crossword answers

Words frequently used in crossword puzzles with common clues.

More "U" Pages

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