Hooking with -EX words
Endings like -EX 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: 74 words spanning 3–12 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 5 letters (14 words), 14 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 13 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is HYPERCOMPLEX, worth 33.
Chasing points? The best five entries here are HYPERCOMPLEX (33), OVERCOMPLEX (27), QUADPLEX (27), CIRCUMFLEX (26), HETERODUPLEX (25). HETERODUPLEX (12 letters) stretches furthest, while the list-wide average score sits near 16 points. If you are fishing for these words, keep X (74 appearances), E (74) and L (29) on your rack.
Three words worth learning first
- UNISEX — a 6-letter, 13-point play that slots into tight board lanes where longer words won't fit.
- ANNEX — 5 letters for 12 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
- Playing LATEX across a double-word square turns its base 12 points into 24 — solid value for 5 tiles.
Round out your set with SILEX (12), TELEX (12), UNSEX (12), AUSPEX (15), CORTEX (15) — all built from common tiles.
-EX as a board weapon
A reliable habit: every time you learn a new -EX 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.