7-letter words with C as the 1st letter and S as the 3rd letter

The pattern is C _ S _ _ _ _: CUSTODY, CUSTOMS, COSTUME, and CASHIER all fit, but their endings spread across several forms. S is the third letter in every match, while S also closes 47 of the 122 words. Only 12 entries rank among common English vocabulary, so familiar examples make up a small slice of the full tournament list.

At a glance: counts, endings, and scores

• 122 tournament-dictionary entries start with C and put S in the third position.
• S is the most common ending, with 47 matches; E follows with 18 and G with 9.
• Only 12 matches are classed as common; recognizable examples include CUSTODY, COSTUME, and CUSHION.
• The average score is 11 points, while CASHBOX leads at 21.
• Coverage differs by dictionary: Collins has 120 matches, NWL2023 has 93, and ENABLE has 86.

Which C-first, S-third words score highest?

CASHBOX is the standout scorer at 21 points, ahead of CASQUED at 19 and CASQUES at 18. Those three are strong candidates when a rack or board position rewards raw tile value, but CASHBOX is the clearest first choice by score.

COSSACK, CASHEWS, CASSOCK, CASTOFF, CASHAWS, CUSHAWS, and CUSHILY each score 15. That group shows why a familiar-looking answer is not always the highest scorer: the pattern includes less everyday options with stronger letter totals.

How to narrow 7-letter words with C first and S third

Start with the ending if your clue gives one. Nearly half of the matches finish in S, making CUSTOMS, CASINOS, CASTLES, and CASUALS good checks for that shape. If the final letter is E, COSTUME and CASCADE are examples; a G ending points toward CASTING or COSTING.

The dictionary split matters for tournament play: Collins includes 120 words, compared with 93 in NWL2023 and 86 in ENABLE. A word accepted in one list may not carry over to another, so check your game's word list before committing. For a general clue, try the recognizable examples first; many of the 122 matches are outside the common-word group.

For a tighter search, lock in any known ending before scanning the remaining letters. That quickly separates plural forms such as CUSTOMS from singular entries such as CUSTARD, while keeping the C _ S pattern intact.