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7-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and U as the 4th letter

Fourteen 7-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and U as the 4th letter qualify, and every one begins with E.

14 wordsTop pick EXCUSESHighest score EXHUMED 20

2 of 14 are everyday words (14%). A mix of familiar words and game-only finds.

With X in 2nd place, L is the most common 4th letter (22 words). The bar under each letter shows the size of its list.

  • Length
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Best words to play first 14 · most-used first

  • EXCUSES16
  • EXCUSED17
  • EXHUMED20
  • EXPUNGE17
  • EXHUMES19
  • EXPULSE16
  • EXCUSER16
  • EXCUDIT17
  • EXCURSE16
  • EXCUSAL16
  • EXHUMER19
  • EXPUGNS17
  • EXPUNCT18
  • EXPURGE17
All valid words 14

A to Z. Includes rare and Collins-only words. Linked tiles open the word's meaning, score and rhymes.

  • EXCUDIT17
  • EXCURSE16
  • EXCUSAL16
  • EXCUSED17
  • EXCUSER16
  • EXCUSES16
  • EXHUMED20
  • EXHUMER19
  • EXHUMES19
  • EXPUGNS17
  • EXPULSE16
  • EXPUNCT18
  • EXPUNGE17
  • EXPURGE17
Letters by positionIn 100% of these words the 1st letter is E.
1st letter
  1. E100%
3rd letter
  1. C43%
  2. P36%
  3. H21%
5th letter
  1. S29%
  2. M21%
  3. R14%
6th letter
  1. E43%
  2. S14%
  3. G14%
7th letter
  1. E29%
  2. S21%
  3. D14%

Highest-scoring words

Scrabble and Words With Friends points, before board bonuses
WordScrabbleWords With FriendsDictionaries
EXHUMED2021All three
EXHUMES1920All three
EXHUMER1920All three
EXPUNCT1822Collins only
EXCUSED1719All three
EXPUNGE1721All three
EXCUDIT1719Collins only
EXPUGNS1721Collins only
EXPURGE1720Collins only
EXCUSES1618All three
EXPULSE1619All three
EXCUSER1618All three

This fixed pattern produces a short, unusual set: EX?U??? is the shape, with E at the start and X and U locked into place. EXCUSES, EXCUSED, and EXHUMED are among the more recognizable entries. Only two matches rank among the top 25,000 English words by frequency, so expect several unfamiliar options.

At a glance: the pattern and its word list

  • Fourteen words match in Collins, NWL2023, or ENABLE.
  • Every match begins with E, making the pattern EX?U???.
  • Only two matches fall within the top 25,000 English words by frequency.
  • Collins includes all 14; ENABLE and NWL2023 each include 8.
  • Eight of the 14 entries have definitions in the word reference.

How many 7-letter words fit X second and U fourth?

There are 14 7-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and U as the 4th letter. Each starts with E, so the pattern is more restrictive than simply searching for X and U anywhere in a word.

EXCUSES and EXCUSED are familiar forms to try first; EXHUMED and EXHUMES also stand out. The remaining entries include less everyday choices such as EXPUNCT, EXCURSE, and EXCUDIT. That small common-word share is a real limitation for casual puzzles: matching the letters does not guarantee a familiar answer.

Dictionary coverage differs by game. Collins has all 14 matches, while ENABLE and NWL2023 each have 8. Check your game's word list before relying on an unfamiliar entry.

  • EXCUSES and EXCUSED are among the more recognizable matches.
  • EXHUMED and EXHUMES also fit the pattern.
  • EXHUMED scores 20 points, the highest score in the group.

Which matching words score the most?

For 7-letter words with X as the 2nd letter and U as the 4th letter, EXHUMED leads the scores. The fixed X contributes a strong tile, but the rest of the rack still matters.

  • EXHUMED scores 20, the highest score among these matches.
  • EXHUMES and EXHUMER each score 19.
  • EXPUNCT scores 18; EXCUSED and EXPUNGE each score 17.
  • When the board permits, build around the X rather than saving it for a later turn.

Questions people ask

Which words in this pattern are easiest to recognize?
EXCUSES and EXCUSED are among the most recognizable matches. EXHUMED and EXHUMES are also familiar to many players, while entries such as EXPUNCT and EXCUDIT are less common. The full set has 14 words, but only two meet the frequency threshold for common words.
What is the highest-scoring word with X second and U fourth?
EXHUMED is the highest scorer, at 20 points. EXHUMES and EXHUMER follow at 19 points each, with EXPUNCT at 18. These are word scores before any board-square bonuses, so a played score can change with the placement.
Are all 14 words accepted in every word game?
No. Collins includes all 14 matches, but ENABLE and NWL2023 each include 8. The game’s dictionary determines which entries count, especially among the less familiar words. Check the word list used by your game before playing an obscure match.

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