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

Only 10 tournament-dictionary words fit the pattern _X__N_. Four are common English words, while the rest include specialized entries such as OXGANG and EXTINE. Seven begin with E, so the first letter narrows the search quickly; the final letter is usually D.

At a glance: the X-and-N pattern

• Ten six-letter words match _X__N_, with X second and N fifth.
• Seven start with E; the other three start with O or A.
• EXTENT, EXPAND, EXTEND, and EXTANT are among the four common matches.
• EXPAND and EXPEND lead the scoring list at 16 points each.
• Four words end in D, making D the most frequent final letter.

Which X-second, N-fifth words score highest?

EXPAND and EXPEND top the scores at 16 points apiece. Both put X in the second spot and N in the fifth, so they fit the clue exactly while bringing more points than familiar options such as EXTENT, which scores 13.

For a playable choice, start with the E words: EXTENT, EXPAND, EXTEND, and EXTANT are among the common matches. If the opening letter is unknown, remember that seven of the ten begin with E, compared with two starting with O and one with A.

The ending offers another useful filter. Four matches finish with D, including EXPAND, EXPEND, and EXTEND. But the remaining words end in T, E, G, or S, so a D at the end still leaves several possibilities rather than proving the answer.

Which dictionaries include these six-letter words?

Collins includes all 10 matches, while ENABLE and NWL2023 include 7 each. That difference matters in tournament play: a word accepted in Collins may not be accepted in an ENABLE or NWL2023 game. Check your game's word list before committing to an unfamiliar entry.

The common set is small beside the full group: only four matches rank among the top 25,000 English words by frequency. OXGANG, OXLAND, and EXTINE are less familiar options, so use the pattern and known crossings rather than assuming every match will come readily to mind. For 6-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and N as the 5th letter, the reliable first move is to test E before less common openings.