Hooking with -SY words
Endings like -SY 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.
This list by the numbers
The shape of this list: 161 entries between 4 and 13 letters long, peaking at 5 letters with 52 words. Five-letter picks number 52 and seven-letter picks 21. Nothing here outscores NYMPHOLEPSY — 26 points from 11 tiles on plain squares.
Chasing points? The best five entries here are NYMPHOLEPSY (26), PHARMACOGNOSY (26), BACKWOODSY (25), HYPOCRISY (22), KOLKHOSY (22). The longest entry is PHARMACOGNOSY at 13 letters, and the average word here is worth about 12 points. If you are fishing for these words, keep S (161 appearances), Y (161) and O (70) on your rack.
Start with these three
- TEENSY is easy to keep in memory: 6 letters, 9 points, and no awkward tiles to hunt for.
- TOOTSY — a 6-letter, 9-point play that slots into tight board lanes where longer words won't fit.
- Playing TRESSY across a double-word square turns its base 9 points into 18 — solid value for 6 tiles.
Round out your set with UNEASY (9), ANTSY (8), ARTSY (8), LOSSY (8), LOUSY (8) — all built from common tiles.
-SY as a board weapon
A reliable habit: every time you learn a new -SY 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.