5-letter words with D as the 3rd letter and E as the 5th letter

This pattern fixes two positions: D sits in the middle, and E closes the word. All 55 entries appear in Collins, while 38 are in NWL2023 and 36 in ENABLE. Fourteen also match Wordle’s answer list, so the pattern has some familiar puzzle vocabulary alongside tournament-list words you may rarely use.

At a glance: D in slot three, E at the end

• 55 tournament-dictionary words fit the pattern, and every one ends in E.
• JUDGE and GADJE tie for the highest score at 14 points.
• M is the most common first letter, with 6 matches; B follows with 5.
• Fourteen words are common by frequency and also appear in Wordle’s answer list.

How many words fit this letter pattern?

The answer is 55, a relatively small set for a five-letter pattern. For comparison, 195 words have A in the third position and E in the fifth, while 187 have I in those positions. D sharply narrows the search.

The opening letters are spread across the set rather than dominated by one starter. M leads with 6 words, and B has 5; C, P, R, and S each contribute 4. Try familiar options such as RIDGE, LODGE, BADGE, or DODGE before reaching for obscure entries.

Which entries stand out for word games?

For 5-letter words with D as the 3rd letter and E as the 5th letter, JUDGE is the standout familiar scorer: it reaches 14 points. GADJE also scores 14, while KEDGE, BEDYE, and KIDGE score 11 each. The strongest choices are not necessarily everyday vocabulary, so check your game's word list before playing an unfamiliar one.

Wordle solvers can keep the 14 answer-list matches in mind, but the full set is broader than likely guesses. RIDGE, LODGE, and HEDGE are recognizable examples; entries such as GADJE or BEDYE are better treated as dictionary-dependent options. The average score is 8.3.

A practical limit on this pattern