7-letter words with L as the 3rd letter and U as the 4th letter

The fixed middle, _ _ L U _ _ _, gives you a narrow pattern with a striking score outlier. S and V tie as the most common first letters, while S dominates the endings. Only seven matches rank among the top 25,000 English words by frequency, so expect a mix of recognizable words and specialist vocabulary.

7-letter words with L as the 3rd letter and U as the 4th letter

• The pattern has 89 matches across the tournament dictionaries represented here.
• S and V each start 15 words, ahead of D with 12.
• A final S appears 33 times; D is next with 14.
• Only 7 matches are among the top 25,000 English words by frequency.
• SHLUMPY scores 17 points, the highest score among these examples.

Which starting and ending letters stand out?

S and V lead at 15 words apiece, but their familiar examples look quite different: SALUTES and SALUTED sit alongside VOLUMES and VALUING. D starts 12 matches, including DILUTED and DELUDED. Those examples make the shared L-U middle easier to spot when you scan the pattern.

The final letter is less balanced. S closes 33 words, more than twice D's 14; E appears at the end of 10, while R closes 7. VOLUMES, ALLUDES, and SALUTES show the common S ending in action.

The 89 matches overlap across Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE, so those dictionary totals should not be added together.

Which matches score well, and what should you watch for?

SHLUMPY leads at 17 points, with UNLUCKY close behind at 16. VOLUBLY and GALUMPH each score 15, while CALUMNY and FELUCCA each reach 14. Those are strong rack options, but several are less familiar than VOLUMES or COLUMNS, so knowing the spelling matters as much as the score.

The frequency count is a useful reality check: only 7 of the 89 matches are common by the stated measure. This pattern is therefore better for testing a precise clue than for assuming every answer will be everyday vocabulary. For tournament play, check your game's word list once; the match totals differ across Collins, NWL2023, and ENABLE.