6-letter words with S as the 2nd letter and T as the 3rd letter

The pattern is _ST___: S and T are fixed in positions two and three, leaving four letters to distinguish each match. Collins accepts all 36 words, while ENABLE and NWL2023 each include 22. Only six qualify as common by frequency, so ESTATE, ESTEEM, ASTHMA, and ASTUTE are more recognizable entry points than many tournament-list rarities.

At a glance: 6-letter words with S 2nd and T 3rd

• Collins includes 36 matches; ENABLE and NWL2023 include 22 apiece.
• Only six entries qualify as common by the frequency measure.
• Initial letters cluster at A (15), E (11), and O (6).
• Final S leads with eight matches; Y follows with five.
• ASTHMA, OSTOMY, and ISTHMI each score 11 Scrabble points.

Which familiar words fit the _ST___ pattern?

Recognizable anchors include ESTATE and ESTEEM, with ASTHMA, ASTRAL, ASTRAY, and ASTUTE adding distinct starts after the fixed ST. The letters before and after ST vary, but those two middle positions stay put. Start by scanning the A-initial group, the largest first-letter cluster, rather than assuming every match begins with A.

The full set is less familiar than those examples suggest. Only six entries count as common by frequency, and Collins includes more matches than either ENABLE or NWL2023. That difference matters in cross-dictionary play: a Collins option may be absent from a North American or ENABLE-based game, so check your game's word list before challenging an unfamiliar form.

How can you use this pattern in a word game?

ASTHMA, OSTOMY, and ISTHMI tie for the highest score at 11 Scrabble points. The group averages 7.1 points, so the top scorers stand above the typical match. If points matter, keep those three in mind; if you need a likely everyday word, try ESTATE or ESTEEM first.

Ending letters also narrow the search: eight matches finish in S, while five finish in Y. The 36 6-letter words with S as the 2nd letter and T as the 3rd letter form a dictionary-matching pool, not a guarantee that every game accepts every entry. Check the relevant list when a less familiar answer matters.