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

The fixed pattern is _E__Y__: E occupies slot two and Y slot five, leaving four positions open. Most candidates are obscure, and only one counts as common; familiar forms such as delayed, relayed, and decayed stand out. Dictionary coverage also shifts sharply, from 22 ENABLE entries to 34 in Collins.

At a glance: a compact E–Y pattern

• There are 35 tournament-dictionary matches for the two fixed letter positions.
• Collins includes 34 matches, compared with 24 in NWL2023 and 22 in ENABLE.
• Only one match is classified as common.
• D starts 10 words, R starts 8, and B starts 6; those initials account for 24 matches together.

Which matching words score highest?

Zephyrs leads the score table at 24 points, followed by benzyls at 21 and keksyes at 18. Those are not ordinary clue answers, but they show how a Z or X can turn a rigid pattern into a strong scoring play. Berhyme reaches 17, while decrypt and lehayim each score 15.

Three readable candidates—delayed, relayed, and decayed—share an -ayed stretch before their final D. Restyle ends in E and belayer in R, so do not assume a single suffix when testing the final two slots.

The average score is 13.3, making zephyrs an outlier rather than a typical result. When the board allows it, look for a premium square for a high-value tile; the letter pattern alone does not guarantee a large turn.

How should you use the E-and-Y pattern?

Starting letters are lopsided: D leads with 10, R has 8, and B has 6. Together, those three initials make up 24 of 35 matches, leaving 11 across the other starting letters. At the other end, D closes 11 words, S closes 9, and E closes 7.

Treat the pattern as a filter, not a clue to the first or final tile: matches can begin with D, R, or B and end in D, S, or E. Check the fixed middle positions before chasing a familiar suffix. Only 24 matches appear in NWL2023 against 34 in Collins, so check your game's dictionary once; many candidates will not carry across formats.