How many words start with DER?

This page lists 151 words starting with DER, each shown with its Scrabble score.

Are these words valid in official Scrabble play?

Not necessarily. This site uses the open ENABLE word list; check the official dictionary used by your game or tournament.

Words Starting With DER

All 151 words in our dictionary that begin with DER, sorted by Scrabble score. Use them to open a word on the board or fill a crossword clue.

151 words · number = Scrabble score · sorted highest score first

dermatoglyphics29 derivatizations28 dermatoglyphic28 derivatization27 derivatizing26 derivatized25 derealizations24 derivatizes24 dermatophytes24 derealization23 derivatize23 dermatophyte23 derivatively22 derivativeness21 dermatological20 derogatively20 derisivenesses18 derivatives18 dermabrasions18 dermatologic18 dermatologists18 dermatology18 derisively17 derivative17 dermabrasion17 dermatologies17 dermatologist17 derogatorily17 deracinating16 deracinations16 derangements16 derepressing16 derepressions16 deridingly16 derisiveness16 derivational16 dermatitides16 dervishes16 deracinated15 deracination15 derangement15 deregulating15 deregulations15 derelictions15 derepressed15 derepression15 derivable15 derivations15 dermatitises15 dermatogens15 dermatomal15 dermatomes15 derogative15 derogatory15 derricks15 deracinates14 derailments14 deregulated14 deregulation14 dereliction14 derepresses14 derivation14 dermatogen14 dermatome14 dermestids14 derrick14 dervish14 deracinate13 deraigning13 derailment13 deregulates13 derivates13 deriving13 dermatites13 dermatitis13 dermatoses13 dermatosis13 dermestid13 derogating13 derogations13 deraigned12 derailleurs12 deranging12 deregulate12 derelicts12 derepress12 derisive12 derisory12 derivate12 derived12 derivers12 dermoids12 derogated12 derogation12 derringers12 derailing11 derailleur11 deranged11 deratting11 derby11 derelict11 deriding11 deringers11 deriver11 derives11 dermic11 dermises11 dermoid11 derogates11 derringer11 deraigns10 derailed10 deranges10 derating10 deratted10 derays10 derbies10 derided10 deriders10 deringer10 derisions10 derive10 derogate10 derrieres10 deraign9 derange9 derated9 deray9 derider9 derides9 derision9 dermal9 dermas9 dermis9 derriere9 derrises9 derry9 derails8 derates8 deride8 derma8 derms8 dernier8 derries8 derail7 derate7 derats7 derm7 derris7 derat6 dere5

Playing words that start with DER

Leading with DER lets you hook onto open columns and reach premium squares. Scan the high-scoring entries above first — they offer the best return when you have the tiles.

What the numbers say

Inside this list: 151 words spanning 4–15 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 10 letters (23 words), 6 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 17 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is DERMATOGLYPHICS, worth 29.

Chasing points? The best five entries here are DERMATOGLYPHICS (29), DERIVATIZATIONS (28), DERMATOGLYPHIC (28), DERIVATIZATION (27), DERIVATIZING (26). The longest entry is DERIVATIZATIONS at 15 letters, and the average word here is worth about 14 points. The most useful tiles to hold for this list are E, D and R, which appear in 151, 151 and 151 of the words respectively.

Three words worth learning first

DERAIL earns 7 points from just 6 tiles — and it is a word few opponents will bother to challenge.
DERATE — 6 letters for 7 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
Playing DERATS across a double-word square turns its base 7 points into 14 — solid value for 6 tiles.

Round out your set with DERRIS (7), DERAT (6), DERE (5), DERIDE (8), DERMAL (9) — all built from common tiles.

DER as a vocabulary shortcut

Groups like this one reward a different kind of practice: pick five words of different lengths from the list above, write each in a sentence, and the DER pattern moves into long-term memory. It is also a quiet Scrabble edge — racks that spell DER plus common tiles come up constantly, and prepared players cash them in while others shuffle letters.

More starting letters

Narrow it down

Combine a starting letter with a length or pattern in the Word Finder for exact matches.