6-letter words with P as the 2nd letter and S as the 5th letter

The pattern is _P__S_: P sits in the second slot, and S sits in the fifth. SPOUSE, OPPOSE, SPLASH and SPARSE are the four common matches. The rest range from familiar-looking words to entries such as APEPSY and UPGUSH, so a matching pattern does not guarantee that a word will feel familiar or suit every game.

At a glance: the matching pattern

• 28 words match the six-letter pattern _P__S_ in Collins.
• ENABLE and NWL2023 each include 17 of those words.
• SPOUSE, OPPOSE, SPLASH and SPARSE are the four common matches.
• UPPISH and APEPSY lead the tile scores at 13 points apiece.
• The most frequent first letters are U, with 11 matches, and S, with 10.

Which matching words are easiest to recognize?

SPOUSE and OPPOSE are the clearest everyday choices; SPLASH and SPARSE are familiar too. Those four account for all four common words in the pattern, making them sensible candidates when a puzzle clue points to ordinary vocabulary.

The opening letter narrows the options sharply: 11 matches begin with U and 10 begin with S, while A, E, O and Y account for the rest. Endings cluster around E, with 11 words, and T, with eight. If you know the first or final letter, use that clue before trying obscure possibilities.

Scores and dictionary fit for _P__S_ words

For a score-minded play, UPPISH and APEPSY are the leaders at 13 points; UPGUSH follows at 12. SPLASH, SPLOSH and UPRUSH each score 11. These are tile scores, so board premiums and placement can change the value of a play.

Dictionary coverage is the catch: Collins has 28 matches, but ENABLE and NWL2023 have 17 each. A word accepted in Collins may not work in a North American game. Check your game's word list before committing to a less familiar entry such as EPRISE or SPEISS.