5-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and E as the 5th letter

X in the second slot and E at the end fixes two letters and leaves the first, third and fourth open. The opening is always a vowel: E starts 6 of the 13 words, A and O start 3 each and I starts 1. OXEYE tops the scoring at 15, and the group averages a strong 12.9.

5-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and E as the 5th letter

• Thirteen words put X second and E last.
• Every one opens with a vowel: E leads 6 words, A and O take 3 each, and I takes 1.
• X is the rarest second letter for an E-ending word, against 230 for a second letter of O.
• EXILE and OXIDE are the only common words, and both are Wordle answers.
• OXEYE tops the scores at 15, and the group average is 12.9.

Which vowels sit in front of X?

The first letter is always a vowel, because no match opens with a consonant before the X. E is the clear favourite, covering 6 of the 13 words; A and O follow with 3 each, and I appears just once, in IXTLE.

The middle pair carries the rest of the meaning. EXILE, EXUDE, EXOME, EXEME, EXINE and EXODE share an EX- opening, AXILE, AXITE and AXONE take AX-, and OXEYE, OXIME and OXIDE begin with OX-.

High scores and a thin answer list

OXEYE is the top play at 15 points, and its two Y tiles explain why. EXOME, OXIME and EXEME follow at 14, then OXIDE, EXUDE and EXODE on 13. The average of 12.9 looks high because X alone is worth 8 points before any other letter.

The answer list is short. EXILE and OXIDE are the only Wordle answers, and they are also the only common words, so the other eleven entries are guesses at best. EXEME and EXODE survive on Collins alone, which puts two of the stronger forms out of reach on a North American board.