7-letter words with T as the 1st letter and U as the 3rd letter

This pattern has a stronger everyday core than many narrow letter frames: 11 of its 99 entries count as common. TOUCHED, TOURISM, TOURIST, TRUSTED, and THUNDER are recognizable starting points. The final letter also spreads across several useful endings, rather than collapsing onto one suffix.

99 matches in this letter frame

• 99 matches place U third after an opening T.
• 11 entries fall within the top 25,000 English words.
• S ends 23 entries; R and D end 16 and 15.
• TOUZLED and TOUZING share the lead at 17 points.

Which endings should you check first?

S is the busiest finish, with 23 words; R follows at 16 and D at 15. Those three endings cover more than half the group, so they are sensible first checks when the board gives you a final square. E contributes another 11 possibilities, including familiar-looking forms such as TOUCHES and TRUSTEE.

The pattern includes verbs and their inflections, but not every ending is a plural marker. TOUCHED, TOURING, and TRUMPED illustrate different ways the fixed U can sit inside a familiar word. Read the whole entry before treating a final S as an automatic plural clue.

Where does familiarity stop?

TOUCHED, TOURISM, TOURIST, TRUSTED, and THUNDER are among the common examples. By contrast, TOUZLED, TOUZING, and TOUZLES lead the score table, yet are much less likely to come to mind during a casual game. Keep the familiar words for fast recall and the scoring list for dictionary-backed opportunities.

TOUZLED and TOUZING each score 17 before board bonuses; TOUZLES and THURIFY reach 16. A high base value does not make an obscure play safe. There are 99 candidates but only 11 common ones, so confirm a rare form in your game’s word list before spending a turn.

The shared U position is a useful anchor, but the third slot alone cannot distinguish TOURISM from TRUSTED. Look at the pair of letters before it and the known ending; those surrounding tiles do the real sorting.