Hooking with -KE words
Endings like -KE 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: 652 words spanning 3–15 letters. The biggest cluster sits at 8 letters (222 words), 28 entries are Wordle-sized at five letters, and 120 run to seven — bingo length if you can empty the rack. For points, the ceiling is JAZZLIKE, worth 37.
The five biggest scorers on the page: JAZZLIKE (37), MICROEARTHQUAKE (35), PIZZALIKE (33), JOHNNYCAKE (29), YOUTHQUAKE (29). At 15 letters, MICROEARTHQUAKE is the longest word on the list; a typical entry scores around 16. The most useful tiles to hold for this list are K, E and I, which appear in 652, 652 and 484 of the words respectively.
Start with these three
- Playing ALSIKE across a double-word square turns its base 10 points into 20 — solid value for 6 tiles.
- When the rack looks hopeless, ANANKE (6 letters, 10 points) is the kind of quiet play that keeps a game moving.
- INTAKE — 6 letters for 10 points; every tile in it is a common draw, so it shows up rack after rack.
Once those stick, file away the next tier too: RETAKE (10), STRAKE (10), STRIKE (10), STROKE (10), UNLIKE (10).
Back-hooking with -KE
A reliable habit: every time you learn a new -KE 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.