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

The pattern is S _ _ _ S _ _, with three positions between the fixed letters. Only one of the 19 matches is classed as common, so everyday vocabulary will not cover much of the search. ASSISTS and OSMOSIS are recognizable examples; other entries, such as TSKTSKS, have striking letter combinations.

The pattern at a glance

• Exactly 19 tournament-dictionary entries match S _ _ _ S _ _.
• Collins lists 19 matches, NWL2023 lists 18, and ENABLE lists 16.
• Nine begin with A, five with O, four with T, and one with P.
• Sixteen end in S; A, D, and E each appear as the final letter once.
• TSKTSKS scores 15 points; TSATSKE, ASKESES, and ASKESIS each score 11.

7-letter words with S as the 2nd and 5th letters

ASSISTS and OSMOSIS show how different the matching words can look while sharing the same fixed positions. In ASSISTS, the two required S letters sit inside a familiar plural form. OSMOSIS places them in a science-related word.

Both are easier to spot than the less familiar entries, but the pattern—not meaning—is the reliable clue.

The opening letter gives you a useful first split: A accounts for nine matches, while O accounts for five. T contributes four, and P contributes just one. Once you know the first letter, check whether the word ends in S; that ending covers 16 matches.

The remaining three each end in a different letter: A, D, or E.

Scoring draws attention to an unusual corner of the list. TSKTSKS leads at 15 points, while TSATSKE, ASKESES, and ASKESIS tie at 11. The average score is 9.1, so the top entry sits well above the group average.

If you are scanning a rack, notice the repeated high-value K in TSKTSKS rather than assuming the most familiar-looking word will score best.

Which dictionary should you check?

Dictionary coverage is close but not identical: all 19 entries appear in Collins, 18 appear in NWL2023, and 16 appear in ENABLE. That leaves words that are accepted in one tournament list but absent from another. The total counts words found in at least one of those lists, not words guaranteed in every game.

A practical check before you play