Hooking with -KEN words
Endings like -KEN 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.
What the numbers say
Inside this list: 67 words spanning 5–15 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 7 letters (16 words), 6 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 16 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is THUNDERSTRICKEN, worth 25.
For quick reference, the top of the score table reads: THUNDERSTRICKEN (25), QUICKEN (22), HALTERBROKEN (21), AWESTRICKEN (20), GODFORSAKEN (20). At 15 letters, THUNDERSTRICKEN is the longest word on the list; a typical entry scores around 15. The most useful tiles to hold for this list are N, K and E, which appear in 67, 67 and 67 of the words respectively.
Start with these three
- SILKEN — 6 letters for 10 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
- SUNKEN — a 6-letter, 10-point play that slots into tight board lanes where longer words won't fit.
- LIKEN earns 9 points from just 5 tiles — and it is a word few opponents will bother to challenge.
Five more everyday options from the same list: OAKEN (9), TAKEN (9), TOKEN (9), DARKEN (11), BROKEN (12).
-KEN as a board weapon
When the board tightens up late in a Scrabble game, -KEN words keep you scoring: they attach to existing letters instead of needing seven clean tiles. Crossword solvers use the same trick in reverse — if the grid gives you the last letters, this list is the candidate pool. Check the length filter in the Word Finder to match your open squares exactly.
More endings
Narrow it down
Pair an ending with a length or starting letter in the Word Finder.