How many words start with MAL?

This page lists 228 words starting with MAL, 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 MAL

All 228 words in our dictionary that begin with MAL, sorted by Scrabble score. Use them to open a word on the board or fill a crossword clue.

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

maladjustments26 maladjustive25 maladjustment25 maladjusted22 malcontentedly22 malfunctioning22 maladministered21 malapportioned21 maleficences21 malfunctioned21 malpractitioner21 malabsorptions20 malacological20 malacostracans20 malapropisms20 maldistribution20 maleficence20 malevolently20 malformations20 malpractices20 malabsorption19 malacostracan19 maladaptations19 maladaptive19 maladministers19 malapropism19 maledictory19 malefactions19 malevolences19 malfeasances19 malformation19 malfunctions19 maliciousnesses19 malleability19 malocclusions19 malpractice19 malacologists18 malacology18 maladaptation18 maladminister18 maladroitnesses18 malapertnesses18 malapropists18 malarkeys18 malefaction18 malefactors18 malevolence18 malfeasance18 malfunction18 maliciously18 malignancy18 malleabilities18 malnourished18 malocclusion18 malodorously18 malversations18 malachites17 malacologies17 malacologist17 maladroitly17 malapertly17 malapropian17 malapropist17 malariologists17 malariology17 malarkey17 malcontented17 maledicting17 maledictions17 malefactor17 maleficent17 malformed17 maliciousness17 malignancies17 malignantly17 malodorousness17 maltreatments17 malversation17 malachite16 maladapted16 maladroitness16 malapertness16 malapropos16 malariologies16 malariologist16 malarky16 maledicted16 malediction16 malignances16 malolactic16 malpositions16 maltreatment16 malaprops15 malarkies15 malathions15 malcontents15 malevolent15 malignance15 malignity15 malingering15 malmseys15 malnutritions15 malposition15 malaccas14 malaprop14 malathion14 malcontent14 maledicts14 malefic14 malignities14 malignly14 malihinis14 malingered14 malingerers14 malmsey14 malnutrition14 maltreating14 malvasias14 malacca13 malaguenas13 malamutes13 malaperts13 malaromas13 maledict13 malemiuts13 malemutes13 malicious13 maligning13 malihini13 malingerer13 malkins13 malleable13 malodorous13 malposed13 maltreated13 maltreaters13 malvasia13 maladroit12 malady12 malaguena12 malamute12 malapert12 malaroma12 malemiut12 malemute12 malenesses12 malfed12 malignant12 maligned12 maligners12 malingers12 malkin12 mallows12 malmiest12 malmy12 malthas12 maltreater12 maladies11 malangas11 malarious11 malices11 maligner11 malinger11 mallards11 malleolus11 mallow11 malmier11 malodors11 maltha11 maltreats11 maltsters11 malaises10 malanga10 malarial10 malarian10 malarias10 maleates10 maleness10 malice10 maligns10 malisons10 mallard10 malleoli10 malling10 malodor10 maltases10 malteds10 maltiest10 malting10 maltoses10 maltreat10 maltster10 malty10 malaise9 malaria9 malates9 maleate9 malgre9 malic9 malign9 malines9 malison9 malled9 mallees9 mallets9 malleus9 malms9 maltase9 malted9 maltier9 maltols9 maltose9 malars8 malate8 maline8 mallee8 mallei8 mallet8 malm8 maloti8 maltol8 malar7 males7 malls7 malts7 male6 mall6 malt6

Playing words that start with MAL

Leading with MAL 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

A few numbers before you scroll: the 228 words here run from 4 to 15 letters, with 8-letter words the largest group (35 entries). Wordle players have 8 five-letter options, and there are 29 seven-letter candidates for a Scrabble bingo. The single best scorer is MALADJUSTMENTS at 26 points before multipliers.

The five biggest scorers on the page: MALADJUSTMENTS (26), MALADJUSTIVE (25), MALADJUSTMENT (25), MALADJUSTED (22), MALCONTENTEDLY (22). At 15 letters, MALADMINISTERED is the longest word on the list; a typical entry scores around 14. Letter-wise, A is the workhorse — it appears in 228 of these words, ahead of L (228) and M (228).

Three words worth learning first

Playing MALARS across a double-word square turns its base 8 points into 16 — solid value for 6 tiles.
MALATE — 6 letters for 8 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
MALINE earns 8 points from just 6 tiles — and it is a word few opponents will bother to challenge.

Five more everyday options from the same list: MALLEE (8), MALLEI (8), MALLET (8), MALOTI (8), MALTOL (8).

MAL 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 MAL pattern moves into long-term memory. It is also a quiet Scrabble edge — racks that spell MAL 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.