Hooking with -CIDE words
Endings like -CIDE let you tack a word onto a tile already on the board, often turning a small play into a big one. Look for the high-value entries above to maximise points.
A quick statistical tour
Inside this list: 50 words spanning 6–14 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 8 letters (15 words), 0 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 5 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is TRICHOMONACIDE, worth 24.
Chasing points? The best five entries here are TRICHOMONACIDE (24), MOLLUSCICIDE (19), UXORICIDE (19), ANTIPESTICIDE (18), BACTERICIDE (18). At 14 letters, TRICHOMONACIDE is the longest word on the list; a typical entry scores around 15. The most useful tiles to hold for this list are E, D and I, which appear in 50, 50 and 50 of the words respectively.
Start with these three
- Playing DECIDE across a double-word square turns its base 10 points into 20 — solid value for 6 tiles.
- EXCIDE — a 6-letter, 16-point play that slots into tight board lanes where longer words won't fit.
- ANTISUICIDE is easy to keep in memory: 11 letters, 14 points, and no awkward tiles to hunt for.
Once those stick, file away the next tier too: RODENTICIDE (15), RATICIDE (11), SILICIDE (11), ANTIPESTICIDE (18), PARASITICIDE (17).
Why -CIDE endings win turns
A reliable habit: every time you learn a new -CIDE word, note whether it also takes a front extension. Words that extend at both ends are the ones that turn a 12-point play into a 40-point one, because you can bridge two premium squares. The top of this list — sorted by score — is where those double-duty words hide.
More endings
Narrow it down
Pair an ending with a length or starting letter in the Word Finder.