7-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and H as the 3rd letter

Only 13 tournament-dictionary entries match this seven-letter pattern, and the list leans heavily toward words beginning EX. Just two entries fall within the common-word cutoff, so familiar candidates such as EXHIBIT and EXHAUST stand out from less everyday forms. The third letter stays H throughout; the second is fixed as X.

At a glance: X-H words

• All 13 matches have X second and H third, giving the pattern _XH____.
• Nine begin with E; the other four begin with O.
• Six end in S, while T is the next most common ending with three.
• EXHUMED leads the score ranking at 20 points.

Which matching words score most?

EXHUMED tops the scoring list at 20, followed by EXHIBIT, EXHUMES, and EXHUMER at 19 apiece. EXHALED, EXHEDRA, OXHEADS, OXHIDES, and OXHERDS each score 18. The 18.1 average reflects how much value the fixed X contributes, even when the other letters look ordinary.

A strong raw score does not guarantee a strong play; board placement still determines whether a word reaches a premium square. For a rack search, keep the X-H sequence together, then test the E and O starting groups separately.

Collins and NWL2023 each include 12 matches, while ENABLE includes nine. Those tournament lists are close but not identical, so check your game's word list before playing a less familiar entry such as EXHEDRA or OXHERDS.

• EXHUMED scores 20, the highest score among these matches.
• EXHIBIT, EXHUMES, and EXHUMER each score 19.
• The average score across the matching words is 18.1.

How can you narrow the 13 matching words?

The limitation is clear: only two matches meet the common-word cutoff, so several candidates will feel obscure. Use the crossing letters first, then verify unfamiliar words against the list used in your game.

• With EXH___S, compare EXHUMES and EXHALES; the middle letters separate the candidates.
• An EXH____ start has familiar options, including EXHIBIT, EXHAUST, EXHUMED, and EXHALED.
• OXHEADS, OXHEART, OXHERDS, and OXHIDES show that OXH can be a real route, not a typo.