7-letter words with M as the 1st letter and L as the 4th letter

The pattern is M _ _ L _ _ _, and familiar words are the exception: just 7 matches rank among common English words. MILLION is a recognizable example, while MAILBOX stands out for a different reason: its 18-point Scrabble score tops the list. The counts vary by dictionary, so a match in one game’s word list may not carry over to another.

At a glance: the M–L pattern

• 142 words match M _ _ L _ _ _ across the tournament dictionaries.
• Only 7 matches are common by frequency; MILLION is one familiar example.
• MAILBOX leads the scoring table at 18 points, followed by MUKLUKS at 17.
• A final S is the most frequent ending, appearing in 59 matches; G appears in 19.

Which 7-letter words have M first and L fourth?

The 142 matches include everyday forms such as MAILING, MILLING, MAILMAN, and MISLEAD, alongside less familiar choices such as MYELOID and MARLING. Look at the fixed letters before testing the rest: the fourth tile must be L, even when the word begins with a familiar M sequence.

The dictionary totals show why a game-specific check matters. Collins includes all 142 matches, while ENABLE includes 99 and NWL2023 includes 102. That difference is especially relevant for unusual entries; check your game’s word list before relying on a less familiar match.

How can you narrow the pattern or choose a scorer?

For a board play, MAILBOX is the scoring leader at 18 points, but its value depends on the board and available squares. MUKLUKS scores 17, while MYOLOGY reaches 16. These are raw word scores, not a promise of a particular turn total; premium squares and connected plays change the result.

For a quick narrowing pass, try the final letter next. S accounts for 59 words, far more than any other ending, while G is next with 19. If your rack or crossing letters rule out S, check endings such as E, N, or R rather than discarding the whole M-and-L pattern.

A practical limit for this letter pattern