5-letter words with T as the 1st letter and X as the 3rd letter

Fourteen tournament-listed words fit this exact pattern, and seven rank among our common words. The familiar cluster includes TAXES, TAXED, TAXIS, and TOXIC, while TAXON and TAXOL are less everyday choices. The pattern also connects to Wordle: two matches are answers, and all 14 are allowed guesses.

At a glance: the T-and-X pattern

• Fourteen tournament-dictionary words start with T and place X third.
• Seven entries count as common by our frequency measure.
• TOXIC leads the scoring list at 14 points; TAXED follows at 13.
• Seven words end in S, including TAXES, TEXTS, TAXIS, and TUXES.
• Two matches are Wordle answers, and all 14 are allowed guesses.

How do 5-letter words with T first and X third compare?

The standout comparison is the third-position swap: T with R has 81 matches, versus 14 with X. That makes X a real constraint, not just a slightly rarer alternative; changing the third letter opens far more options.

Several entries share the TAX- opening: TAXES, TAXED, TAXIS, TAXON, TAXOL, TAXUS, TAXER, and TAXOR. Their endings spread across S, D, N, L, and R, so a known final letter quickly separates candidates. Seven words end in S, more than any other final letter.

TOXIC scores 14, with TAXED next at 13. TEXAS, TAXES, TEXTS, TAXIS, TOXIN, TAXON, TUXES, and TAXOL each score 12. The average is 12.2, so the leader edges that group by only two points.

Which dictionaries accept these words?

Collins includes all 14 entries, while NWL2023 includes 12 and ENABLE includes 11. The count includes a word when at least one tournament list accepts it, so a candidate here may not work in every game.

Only 10 entries have definitions in our definition coverage, so a recognizable spelling does not guarantee a familiar clue or a uniform dictionary result. Check your game's word list before playing a marginal entry.

For a puzzle, lock T and X in place, then test endings: S is the strongest first check, with seven options. If the last letter is known, that split narrows this compact pattern quickly.