Word lists for word games
A pocket reference of the lists most worth memorising if you play Scrabble, Words With Friends, or competitive anagram games. Pair these with the unscrambler to plan your next move.
Note: Scrabble and Words With Friends each have their own official dictionaries (TWL, SOWPODS, ENABLE) and a small number of words may be valid in one and not another. Always confirm against the rule set of the game you're playing.
Every valid 2-letter word
Two-letter words are the workhorse of Scrabble — they let you parallel-play, build double-letter combinations, and dump awkward tiles. Memorising this list is the single highest-leverage thing a new player can do.
Q words without a U
The Q is the most-feared tile in the bag because it's worth 10 points but normally needs a U. These words let you dump or score with a lone Q.
High-value tile plays (J, Q, X, Z)
Short words that turn a 4-, 8-, or 10-point tile into a big score, especially across a double- or triple-letter bonus.
Useful J words
Useful Q words
Useful X words
Useful Z words
Bingo stems worth memorising
A "bingo" is playing all seven tiles in one turn — worth a 50-point bonus in Scrabble. Strong players don't memorise individual bingos; they memorise stems: 5- or 6-letter combinations that pair with almost every other tile in the bag.
satine
Forms 7-letter plays with most common letters: SATINE + B → BASINET, + C → CINEAST, + D → DESTAIN, + L → ENTAILS.
retina
A classic rack. Hooks RETAIN, RATINE, NUTRIA, plus countless 7-letter extensions.
tisane
Same six letters as SATINE rearranged — different anchor for spotting bingos.
stane
Five-letter stem that builds into ANTES, ETNAS, NATES, NEATS — useful when you only have five tiles to spare.
ratios
Includes the high-frequency S, making 7-letter extensions common (e.g. ARISTO, AORIST + tile).
How to use these lists with the unscrambler
- Type your rack into the unscrambler.
- Open Options and set "Required letter" to your high-value tile (Q, J, X, or Z) — every result will use it.
- Cross-reference the shortlist above to spot the highest-scoring opportunity for the board position you're in.